by Nerys Leigh
An unexpected warmth enveloped her, something she never thought she’d feel in the saloon. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.”
Feeling much better, she headed for the bar. And then her eyes came to rest on Rufus.
He was standing at the door to his office, and he wasn’t smiling. It was, as usual, impossible to read his expression, but the way he was looking at her still sent a shiver up her spine. His face was completely neutral, not threatening at all. And yet...
Shaking her head, she looked away. She was just jumpy after the previous night, that was all.
She hadn’t been working twenty minutes before possibly the last person she would have expected to see in the saloon walked up to the bar. She almost dropped the glass she was drying.
“Daniel?”
Sara’s husband smiled. “Afternoon, Jo. I’ll have a glass of water and, what’s good on the menu?”
She closed her mouth. “What on earth are you doing here?”
“Having a meal and a glass of water.”
“But you never...” She stopped, narrowing her eyes. “Wait, did Zach send you in here?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” His face was completely straight, but his dimple, which Sara adored and had gushed about more than once, twitched.
“You don’t have to do this,” she said. “I have a whole saloon full of men who will leap to my aid if I need them.”
He glanced around the room before returning his attention to her. “That’s nice. So what would you recommend I have for supper?”
“Isn’t three thirty a little early for supper?”
“I had an early start.”
Sighing, she shrugged. “All right, if that’s what you want to do. The cook doesn’t get in until four, but people seem to like the steak.”
He smiled. “Steak it is.”
Daniel stayed for an hour and a half, eating his meal at the bar once Frank got in then drinking his water very, very slowly. He finally left at five, nodding to Adam who passed him at the door on his way in.
Adam walked straight up to the bar. “Hi, Jo.”
She rolled her eyes. “And I suppose Zach didn’t put you up to this either.”
His poker face wasn’t nearly as good as Daniel’s. “As I don’t like to lie, I will not be answering that question.”
“And whatever I say, you will be staying, I take it?”
“I’m happy to be here, but also my life wouldn’t be worth living if I left. Zach and Amy ganged up on me, so I couldn’t have said no even if I’d wanted to.”
She couldn’t help smiling at that. “Okay. Daniel had the steak and potatoes.”
“Sounds good.”
Two hours later, Adam said goodbye, walked to the door, and spoke to Solomon who followed him out. Curious, Jo leaned across the bar so she could see out the door. The two of them were carrying Jesse in his wheelchair up the steps. They placed him on the porch outside and he wheeled through the swing doors and up to the bar.
“Who’s coming after you?” she said. It couldn’t be Elijah. He wasn’t healed enough yet.
“I don’t know. Will offered, but Zach wouldn’t let him. Too much temptation.”
Jo nodded in agreement, relieved. She didn’t want his determination to no longer frequent the saloon to be ruined on her account. “Sara said he’s doing really well.”
“He is. We’re all proud of him.”
“So what can I get you? Daniel and Adam had the steak.”
He pressed his lips together in thought. “Do you have sausages? I’m in the mood for sausages.”
“You’re in luck, we have sausages today.”
“And I’ll take a beer.”
Her eyebrows shot up.
“Don’t tell Louisa. She probably wouldn’t mind, but she thinks I’m perfect and I don’t want to disabuse her of that notion.”
She laughed. “My lips are sealed.”
Jesse left at nine. Jo watched the door, curious as to who would be there for her final hour. After a minute or so, George Parsons walked in.
For some reason, having Zach’s father there made her nervous. She’d met him before, more than once, and she liked him. He was refreshingly straightforward, free of any artifice so far as she could tell. And the way he looked after Amy, and her affection for him, was enough to convince Jo he was a good man. And, of course, anyone who’d raised a son like Zach had to be something special.
But since her relationship with Zach had moved somewhat beyond the realm of just friends, it felt a little like spending time with the future father-in-law. Not that she’d thought about marrying Zach. Much.
She didn’t think about it all the time.
As George walked up to the bar, she wondered if Zach had told his father about how things were between them.
“Good evening, Mr. Parsons.”
He raised his eyebrows. “What have I told you to call me?”
“Sorry. George.”
He nodded. “Better.”
“So Zach gave you the last hour to watch me before I go home?”
He eased onto a bar stool and propped his elbows on the bar. “He’s worried about you. After what happened last night, I don’t blame him. I’m worried too.”
A brief moment of panic gripped her before she realised he meant the attack, not the spectacular kiss. “I’m honestly okay. I don’t think I could be safer here.” She smiled at his look of scepticism. “I know that sounds strange, but a lot of the men here are lovely. They wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”
He snorted a laugh. “I daresay you’re right, although I’m not sure I’d use the word ‘lovely’ to describe them. But I know most of them and they aren’t bad folks.” He cast a glance across the room to where Rufus lounged in his usual booth. “Not sure I can say that about everyone though.”
She followed his gaze. “Do you know Rufus?”
“Only in passing. I’ve never had cause to deal with him.”
“But you don’t trust him?”
“Don’t reckon I have any reason to. He does run this place. Why? He bothering you?”
“No, not at all.” She thought about the ring both Rufus and Dunbar wore. “I just wondered about him, that’s all.”
Rebecca walked up to the bar and reeled off a list of drinks to Jo.
“Evening, Miss Callahan,” George said.
She smiled warmly at him. “Good evening, George. I’m surprised to see you in here.”
He glanced at Jo. “Just doing my son a favour, and enjoying the company.”
“Well, it’s nice to see you, anyhow. Thanks, Jo.” She took the tray of drinks Jo had prepared and carried it back to the table of men she was entertaining.
George watched her go, his expression tinged with sadness. “You know, this place used to be very different, ’fore Rufus took over. The girls who worked here then were just saloon girls, chatting with the customers, generally cheering the place up, that sort of thing. They didn’t do anything else. Not saying that didn’t go on in the town, but it didn’t happen here. Then the previous proprietor upped and left all of a sudden, Rufus Prendergast moved in, and it all changed. And the girls didn’t get much say in the matter. That must be more than ten years ago now.”
“I suppose you don’t think much of me working here,” Jo said. There wasn’t any point in dancing around the matter.
“I figure you have your reasons, and that you’re doing what you think you have to. I ain’t gonna judge you for that.”
She breathed out in relief and smiled. “Thank you.” The more she got to know George Parsons, the more she understood how Zach had become the man he was. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“I’ll have a beer.” He watched her fill a glass from the barrel behind the bar. “So what are your intentions towards my son?”
Beer sloshed over her fingers and she clutched the glass with both hands as it threatened to plunge to the floor.
“I, um, intentio
ns?” She set the dripping glass on the bar and grabbed a cloth to clean up the spill.
He picked up the glass once she’d dried it and took a mouthful. “He’s very taken with you. I love my son very much, and I don’t mean this in any way as an accusation, but I don’t want to see him hurt.”
What on earth could she possibly say? “I don’t want to see him hurt either. The truth is, I’m taken with him too. Very much.” At least she didn’t have to lie about that.
He studied her for what seemed like an age, as if he could tell she wasn’t telling the whole truth, and for a moment she thought he was going to call her out on it. But then he nodded.
“I’m glad to hear that.” He took another draw of his beer. “So, Jo, tell me about your life in New York.”
She suppressed a grimace. It was going to be a very long hour.
~ ~ ~
By the time her shift was over, Jo was exhausted. Not physically, at least no more than usual, but mentally she was ready to have a long rest in a darkened room.
She liked Zach’s father, she truly did, but answering his questions about her life before she came to Green Hill Creek while not actually lying to him had required mental gymnastics even her many years of deception hadn’t prepared her for. When Walt arrived to relieve her behind the bar, she almost hugged him.
“I enjoyed our chat,” George said as he walked with her down the steps in front of the saloon. “It was very informative.”
Informative. Did that mean he knew she wasn’t telling him the whole truth? She had no idea. She was so flustered she could barely remember her own name.
“I enjoyed it too.” The parts where he told her stories of Zach’s childhood anyway. Those had been immensely entertaining.
They reached the boardwalk and Zach strolled up to them. “Thanks, Pa.”
George smiled and patted his arm. “My pleasure, son. Good evening, Jo.” With a tip of his hat, he headed along the street in the direction of the livery and his house.
“How was your shift?” Zach said. “Anything unusual happen?”
“Oh, stop it.” She turned towards the hotel.
He jogged to catch up with her. “You wouldn’t let me go in there. I had to improvise.”
“I was fine.”
“I know. I just needed to make sure.”
Sighing, she came to a halt and faced him. “I never know whether to be annoyed or grateful when you do things like this.”
He pushed his hands into his pockets and flashed her the charming smile that never failed to melt her insides. “That’s why you like me so much. I’m never boring.”
Rolling her eyes, she started walking again. He fell into step beside her, nudged her with his shoulder, and waggled his elbow. Smiling, she wound her arm around it. Even if she was a little annoyed with him, it was nigh on impossible to stay that way.
When they reached the hotel, Javier was behind the reception desk.
“I’ll be down in a few minutes,” Zach said, following Jo to the staircase.
“Don’t hurry on my account,” Javier replied, smiling.
“I can get myself to my room,” Jo said.
Zach took her hand. “I know.”
They reached her bedroom and she turned to face him, her back to the door. “We’re here.”
His gaze held hers, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “So we are.”
“So you can go back to work now.”
“I guess I can.” He stepped closer, placing his palms onto the surface of the door either side of her.
Her hands flexed, itching to touch him. “I’m safe now.”
“Yes, you are,” he whispered, leaning towards her.
She raised her face, her eyes going to his mouth and her lips parting.
“Good evening, Zachary, Josephine.”
He closed his eyes and dropped his chin to his chest for a moment before turning to face Mrs. Sanchez. “How on earth do you walk so quietly?”
Despite Jo’s desire to kiss him as much as he wanted to kiss her, she had to stifle a giggle.
“I have two growing children,” Mrs. Sanchez said. “There are often times when being able to walk without a sound is an advantage. And speaking of my children, it’s Javier’s bedtime. Would you be so kind as to go and relieve him?”
Zach opened his mouth to reply, paused for a moment, then closed it again, his shoulders slumping. “Yes, Mrs. S.”
He sighed, gave Jo a small, regretful smile, and trudged along the corridor towards the stairs. Somehow, the almost childlike behaviour made her adore him even more.
When he was out of sight, Mrs. Sanchez grinned. “Sometimes it’s good to keep a man on his toes. They are more attentive that way.”
Jo wasn’t sure how much more attentive Zach could get, but she smiled anyway. “You’re a cruel woman.”
She laughed. “I know.”
Chapter 31
“Jo!”
At the sound of her name, she stopped and looked round. When she saw Gabriel approaching across the yard behind the hotel, she placed the basket of damp sheets she was carrying onto the ground and straightened to stretch her back.
Doing laundry was not something she was used to, other than her own clothing. Even with the help of the new washing machine the hotel’s laundry boasted, it was going to take some getting used to. Still, the time alone gave her the opportunity to think. Although she was running out of things to think about.
Gabriel eyed the basket as he walked up to her. “You working for the hotel now?”
“Just part time, for room and board. I needed somewhere to stay and Zach convinced Mr. Vernon to let me work here.”
At the mention of Zach, he looked away, his mouth a hard line. “Heard you got a job at the saloon too.”
So news had spread even as far as him. The drawback of living in a small town, she supposed. She wondered how long news of her pregnancy would take to get around the whole town, once it finally came out. Would it be measured in minutes or seconds?
“I’m tending bar. I need the money for when,” she touched her abdomen, “you know.”
“You could have come back to me. I said you could.”
“I’m not blaming you, Gabriel. This is just how it is.”
He frowned. “You’d rather have those men ogling you in the saloon than live as my wife. Yes, I know real well how it is.”
Was that hurt in his voice?
“Can I ask you a question?” she said.
He gave her a curt nod.
“Do you love me?”
He seemed taken aback by the notion. “Love you?”
“Yes. In the time we were together, did you fall in love with me?” She needed to get her point across, but she hoped she was right about this. If his answer was yes, she wasn’t sure what she’d do.
He shrugged, scrunching his nose. “I didn’t hate having you around, even when you were sick.”
“But did you love me? Did you wake up every morning with a smile on your face just because I was there? When we were apart, did you count the minutes until we’d be together again? Did you get shivers when I smiled at you? Did you feel like laughing for no reason because you were so happy? Did you feel like being apart from me would rip your heart in two?”
It wasn’t entirely unexpected that flaming red hair, sparkling blue eyes and a beautiful smile came to mind when she dug into her own feelings of love. Not that she would allow herself to fall in love with Zach. It just wasn’t too much of a leap from what she did feel for him. That was all.
To her relief, Gabriel’s response to her description of being in love was less recognition and more bewilderment. “That all sounds like the beginnings of something that could get you thrown into a lunatic asylum.”
She couldn’t help laughing at that. “I suppose it could be argued that love is a kind of insanity. But that’s what it feels like, good or bad.”
He shrugged. “Then no, I don’t reckon I love you.”
“And that
’s why I didn’t go back with you. When you do fall in love, you’ll understand. I thought I could fake it, that love didn’t matter, but it turns out that it does matter to me, a lot. Believe me, it’s the best thing for both of us. We wouldn’t have been happy together.”
He stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. “I don’t pretend to have a notion as to what you’re talking about, but you being a woman, that don’t surprise me. Anyway, that ain’t why I came to talk to you. I need that money for the train ticket you promised me.”
“Now? It’s been less than three weeks! How could you have possibly found another woman in three weeks?”
He looked down at the ground, kicking one boot at the dust. “I was writing to her same time as I was writing to you. I stopped once you agreed to marry me and you were on your way, but after you left, I wrote her and asked her to marry me. Just got her letter today saying yes.”
She couldn’t believe he’d asked her to marry him with another woman waiting in the wings. He’d had a back-up plan for their marriage. The fact that he turned out to need it was neither here nor there.
“Does she know about me?”
More kicking at the dust. At least he had the decency to feel awkward about it. “No, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention us having been married once she gets here. I don’t reckon it would go down too well.”
“I don’t reckon it would.” How desperate was this poor woman? Jo had the sudden impulse to giggle. What were the odds he’d get a second already pregnant wife?
“So I’m going to be needing that money,” he said. “For her ticket.”
“I don’t have it yet. I can’t get a hundred and fifty dollars in three weeks.” Maybe she could have swindled it somehow back in New York, but pickings were a lot slimmer here, and a hundred and fifty dollars was a lot of money.
His frown returned. “Well, how much you got?”
She did a quick mental calculation. “Sixty-eight dollars, right now. I could try asking Rufus for an advance on my wages, but even then I could probably only get another ten or so. My basic wage isn’t very high. Most of what I earn is a percentage of the drinks I sell.”
