Journey to Yesterday

by Madeline Baker

  She felt more conspicuous in the gaudy dress than she had in her tee shirt and shorts, but no one paid her any mind as she followed Alejandro to a table near the window. A few of the men spoke to Alejandro. Several of them smiled at her. Dressed as she was, they probably thought she was a new saloon girl. Alejandro held her chair for her. Removing his hat, he hung it from a hook on the wall, then took the seat across the table from her.

  A young woman with a wealth of curly red hair, dark-green eyes and a sprinkling of freckles across her nose and cheeks made a beeline for their table, effectively cutting off another waitress headed in their direction.

  “Good morning, Rio,” she said brightly, “what’ll you be having this fine day?”

  “Ham and eggs and fried potatoes, Lily, my darlin’. And lots of coffee, hot and black.”

  Lily smiled expansively. “And you, miss?” she asked, though her gaze was still on Alejandro.

  “The same,” Shaye replied. She would have preferred a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice, but she doubted if it was on the menu. “Oh, and could I have decaf, please?”

  Lily stared at her. “De-what?”

  “De…never mind.”

  Lily looked at Alejandro, shrugged, and left the table.

  “What’s de-caf?” he asked.

  “It’s a kind of coffee that’s popular where I come from.”

  “In Los Angeles?”

  “Yes.”

  “Uh huh.”

  Lily returned moments later with two cups of coffee. “If you need anything else, Rio,” she said huskily, “just holler.”

  Alejandro winked at Lily. “Thanks, darlin’.”

  Shaye blew out an exasperated sigh. The man had enough charm for a dozen men. If she could find a way to bottle it, she could probably make a million dollars in no time at all.

  “Why do people call you Rio?”

  He shrugged. “An old friend of mine once remarked that I had a temper as slow as the Rio Grande in summer and a draw faster than a flash flood, and it stuck.”

  “You don’t like it?”

  Picking up his coffee cup, he grinned at her. “I’ve got more important things to worry about than a silly name.”

  “Like what?” She grimaced as she took a sip of her coffee. It didn’t taste anything like what she was used to.

  “Like whether Fred Syler will show up at the Queen tonight.”

  Shaye added a generous amount of milk and sugar to her coffee. “Why? You’re not afraid of him, are you?”

  He laughed. “No, I’m not afraid of him, but he always brings trouble with him. One of these days, he won’t back down, and I’ll have to kill him.”

  “You wouldn’t!”

  “I will if he doesn’t give me any other choice.”

  She pondered that a moment, weighing the implications. “Have you killed many men?”

  “A few.”

  She regarded him a moment. She had never known anyone who had taken a life. “How many is a few?”

  “Three.”

  “You’ve killed three men?”

  “Gambling’s a dangerous game, especially in a boom town. Too many men. Too much booze. Not enough law.” He shrugged. “They were all fair fights.” He grunted softly. “What’s the matter? I know they have guns in Los Angeles. Don’t tell me no one ever gets shot.”

  She had to laugh at that. You couldn’t pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV without hearing about some nut who’d grabbed a pistol or an assault weapon and gone on a rampage, killing innocent women and children, and often killing themselves as well.

  “Did I say something funny?”

  “Not really.”

  “Here you go, Rio, ham and eggs, just the way you like ‘em.”

  “Gracias, Lily my darlin’.”

  Shaye murmured her own thanks as Lily set a plate in front of her, noticing as she did so that there were three extra slices of ham on Alejandro’s plate, and two extra biscuits.

  “Anything else I can get for you, Rio?” Lily asked. “Anything at all?”

  Alejandro held up his empty cup. “More coffee?”

  “Coming right up. I just made a fresh pot.”

  Alejandro looked at Shaye, one brow raised. “What’s wrong?” he asked when Lily moved away from the table.

  “Nothing. I’m just surprised she didn’t offer to feed you, that’s all.”

  A broad grin spread over his face. “You jealous?”

  “Don’t be absurd!”

  “Hey, can I help it if she likes me?”

  “Likes you! That’s putting it mildly.”

  Alejandro chuckled. She was mighty pretty when her color was up. And even when it wasn’t. The borrowed dress outlined every curve. It was a shame to cover up those long legs, he thought. Last night, he had dreamed of having them wrapped around his waist.

  With a sigh of exasperation, Shaye turned her attention to her breakfast, which was surprisingly good. She refused to meet Alejandro’s gaze, but she could feel him watching her, could just imagine the smug expression on his handsome face.

  Lily came by twice to refill his coffee cup, and once apparently just to run her hand over his shoulder and give him a smile.

  Shaye looked up when she finished eating to find him watching her. “What?”

  “Nothing. You ready to go?”

  “Yes, if you can tear yourself away.”

  He laughed as he stood up and reached for his hat. He settled it on his head, then dropped a couple of silver dollars on the table.

  Muttering under her breath, Shaye followed him out of the restaurant. Why was she letting him get to her? What difference did it make if women found him irresistible?

  Or if he took advantage of it?

  He took her arm as they threaded their way through the crowded boardwalk. Men outnumbered the women about a hundred to one. Bodie was quite a melting pot, she mused as she overheard men speaking Italian and French, caught the sound of a heavy Irish brogue. She saw a slender Chinaman dressed in baggy trousers pulling a cart filled with vegetables. Dust tickled her nostrils, and she sneezed and sneezed again.

  A huge wagon loaded with pipe and drawn by a team of six tired-looking horses rumbled past, followed by a stagecoach, which raised even more dust.

  She stopped when he squeezed her arm.

  “You should be able to find something to wear in here,” Alejandro said.

  Shaye glanced at the building. The words Madame Sophie’s Creations were painted on the window in flowing white script over a bright red rose. “This doesn’t look like the dry goods store,” she remarked.

  “Changed my mind,” he said with a wink. Opening the door, he poked his head inside. “Hey, Sophie, give Shaye here anything she wants and send me the bill.”

  There was a muffled reply which Shaye assumed was assent.

  “Sophie’ll take good care of you,” he said.

  “Another admirer?” Shaye asked.

  Alejandro grinned at her. “I can’t help it, darlin’. Can you find your way back to the hotel?”

  “I think so,” she replied curtly.

  The sound of Alejandro’s laugher followed her as she stepped into the shop. Annoyed, she slammed the door, which set the bell to ringing violently.

  A small, slender woman with orange hair and rouged cheeks emerged from a curtained off area at the back of the shop.

  “Something troubles you, cherie?” she remarked. “Well, you have come to the right place. There is nothing like the new ensemble to put the world to rights, no?” She beamed at Shaye. “I am Sophie. Welcome to my salon.” Sophie looked her up and down. “Cherie, what is that you are wearing?” She shook her head. “We must get you out of that immediatement!”

  Sophie tapped a finger to her lips as she studied Shaye’s measurements. “Giselle, bring me the striped taffeta skirt and matching shirtwaist, the green crepe de chine, and the burgundy challis.”

  Before she quite knew how it happened, Shaye found herself in a dressing
room, stripped to the skin.

  Sophie held up Shaye’s bra, frowning. “Never have I seen anything like this. Or these,” she said, pointing at Shaye’s Nikes.

  “Well, they’re all the rage where I come from,” Shaye replied.

  With a shake of her head, Sophie dropped the bra on top of Shaye’s dress.

  Shaye had always wondered what women in the old West had worn under their voluminous dresses, and she soon found out. A camisole, white cotton stockings, pantaloons that tied just below the knee, a corset, a corset cover, a bustle, an organdy petticoat and, lastly, a linen underskirt lined with cotton. She lifted her arms as Madame Sophie dropped an overskirt of brown, green and white striped taffeta over her head, then helped her into a long sleeved blouse of the same material. It felt deliciously wicked against her skin. A pair of brown kid half-boots completed the outfit.

  Sophie stood back, her gaze critical. “Giselle, bring my pins.”

  Moments later, Shaye’s hair was pinned up and she was wearing a dainty bonnet with green and white streamers. White gloves came next. And then a parasol.

  “Magnifique!” Sophie said, and turned Shaye around so she could see herself in the full-length mirror.

  A stranger stared back at her.

  Sophie nodded, obviously pleased with her handiwork. “Tres belle!” she declared. “You are beautiful, no?”

  “I am beautiful, yes,” Shaye murmured, as she turned this way and that. The full skirt made her waist seem incredibly small. The colors in the blouse complemented her hair and eyes. Though she had never cared much for hats, she had to admit that the bonnet added the perfect touch.

  Sophie smiled. “I am pleased that you are pleased,” she said. “Alejandro will also be pleased, I think.”

  Shaye nodded. He probably wouldn’t recognize her. She hardly recognized herself.

  Sophie insisted she try on the other two dresses, declared them a perfect fit, then suggested a couple of other dresses for everyday—a blue gingham, a pink muslin, a dark-green calico, as well as a frilly white blouse and a wine-red skirt. In addition, Sophie added a white cotton nightgown with dainty pink roses embroidered across the bodice, a robe, a change of undergarments and several pairs of stockings, both white and black, both cotton and silk. She was amazed when Sophie included a pair of red stockings to match one of her petticoats. Lastly, came the piece de resistance, a gown of deep-green watered silk with a slim skirt and a modest bustle covered with tiny pink silk roses. The green in the dress deepened the color of Shaye’s eyes to dark emerald.

  Three hours later, Shaye left the shop attired in the striped taffeta, parasol in hand. Sophie had assured her she would send the rest of her wardrobe to the hotel later in the day. The bill would be sent to Alejandro.

  Shaye felt like a different woman as she walked down the street. Men smiled at her, bowed at her, bid her good day. Women nodded at her, a few smiled.

  She was perspiring when she reached the hotel. Whatever possessed women to bury themselves under so many layers of clothing? She was surprised they didn’t all faint from heat prostration!

  She saw Alejandro the minute she entered the hotel. He was sitting on one of the curved sofas, talking to another man. Alejandro looked up as she drew near, smiled, and returned his attention to the other man. And then, very slowly, he looked up at her again. Stunned was the only word to describe his expression.

  “Shaye.”

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Valverde,” she replied in her most ladylike voice.

  The man siting beside Alejandro punched him on the arm. “Valverde, introduce me to this lovely creature.”

  “Philo, this is Miss Montgomery. Shaye, this is Philo Richardson. He’s the editor of the Bodie Gazette.”

  Philo stood up and removed his hat. She had noticed that all the men wore hats. Philo Richardson wore a brown bowler; Alejandro wore a black Stetson.

  “My pleasure, Miss Montgomery,” Philo said.

  Remembering her meeting with Lottie Johl, Shaye extended a gloved hand. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Richardson.”

  Philo bowed over her hand. “You must be new in town.”

  “Yes, I’ve only been here a short while.”

  He rocked back on his heels. He was a head shorter than Alejandro, with dark brown hair just turning gray, and twinkling brown eyes. He wore a brown suit with a garish red-and-orange-striped vest.

  “Can I hope your visit will be an extended one?” he asked.

  She smiled at him. “I’m not sure yet,” she replied.

  “If there’s anything I can do,” Philo said gallantly, “you have only to let me know.”

  “Thank you. That’s very kind.”

  Alejandro had been staring at her. Rising, he moved to stand beside her. “That’s enough, Philo. If Miss Montgomery needs anything, I’ll take care of it.”

  “Ah,” Philo drawled, glancing at Shaye and then back at Alejandro. “That’s the way it is.”

  Shaye flushed.

  Alejandro grinned.

  Shaye’s hand tightened on the handle of her parasol as she resisted the urge to strike Alejandro over the head with it. The nerve of the man!

  “It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Montgomery. I hope to see you again, soon.”

  “Thank you.”

  She waited until he left the hotel, turned on Alejandro. “How dare you!”

  “How dare I what?”

  “I saw the way he looked at you. He thinks I’m your…that we’re…”

  Alejandro grinned at her, obviously amused by her anger. “What does he think?”

  “You know very well what he thinks.”

  “It’s for your own good. There aren’t many single women in town, and most of those are saloon girls. It’s better if the men think you’re spoken for.”

  “I can assure you I’m quite capable of taking care of myself.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Yes. I don’t know about the women in Bodie, but I’m not some helpless female, and I won’t be treated like one.”

  Alejandro raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “All right, all right, I’m sorry.” His gaze moved over her in blatant male approval as he offered her his arm.

  “I don’t have to be at work for another couple of hours, Miss Montgomery. Would you care to go into the dining room and have some pie and coffee?”

  Shaye smiled at him. Clad in nineteenth-century clothing made her feel like she was someone else, as if she were play-acting. To her amazement, she found herself batting her lashes a little as she said, “Why, thank you, Mr. Valverde, I’d love to.”

  He looked at her a minute, clearly astonished by her abrupt change of mood, and then he threw back his head and laughed. It was the most masculine, sexy laugh she had ever heard and it filled her with a sudden burst of happiness that quickly turned to sadness when she remembered that he had only a few months to live.

  Chapter Eight

  Shaye pushed the thought of Alejandro’s demise to the back of her mind as they entered the restaurant. His fate had been decided over a century ago and there was nothing she could do about it, though she couldn’t help wondering if it was possible to change his destiny. If she warned Alejandro of what was to happen, would he be able to avoid it? Or was his fate already sealed? And if it was possible to change his fate, what would the repercussions be? Could changing one man’s fate alter the future course of history?

  “Penny for your thoughts?”

  “What? Oh, I was just wondering…wondering what kind of pie to have.”

  “Well, there’s usually only two choices,” Alejandro replied with a grin. “Apple, or apple.”

  She pushed her fears for his future to the back of her mind as she grinned back at him. “Then I think I’ll have apple.”

  As usual, they got immediate service, large slices of pie, and lots of coffee. She was surprised he wasn’t as fat as a pig, the way the waitresses fawned over him, giving him generous servings of whatever he ordere
d.

  She heard a clock chime the hour. “What time do you have to be at work?”

  “Rojas is expecting me around eight, I think. Why?”

  “I’d like to see the Velvet Rose.”

  Alejandro lifted one brow. “Is that so?”

  Shaye nodded, though it wasn’t the saloon she really wanted to see, but Daisy Sullivan. “Would it be all right?”

  “Sure, darlin’.”

  He paid the check and they left the restaurant.

  The Bodie Belle was decorated in red and black. The colors were striking, if a little loud, but then, Shaye thought, maybe that was the idea. Between the colors and the noise, she was pretty sure no one ever fell asleep over their cards.

  The place was crowded, but Shaye was getting used to that wherever they went. As luck would have it, several miners vacated a table as they passed by, and Alejandro grabbed it for the two of them.

  A short time later, a pretty girl with waist-length blond hair and gray eyes and approached their table. Keeping with the room’s color scheme, she wore a short red dress, black stockings, and red high-heeled shoes.

  “Rio, honey!” she exclaimed. “It’s been ages.”

  “Hi, Maddy. How’s life treating you?”

  “A lot better than Daisy is,” she replied with a grimace.

  “She’s not still giving you a bad time?”

  “Oh, isn’t she?”

  “I’m sorry, Maddy darlin’.”

  She shrugged. “So, what’ll you have?”

  “The usual for me. Shaye?”

  “Beer.” Shaye stared at the girl. Maddy. It had to be the same girl mentioned in Daisy’s diary, the one she had been so jealous of.

  “Something wrong?” Alejandro asked.

  “No, why?”

  “You were giving Maddy the once-over like maybe you thought you knew her.”

  “Oh, no. I was just…just admiring her hair. It’s lovely.”

  Alejandro nodded, but she wasn’t sure he was convinced.

  Maddy returned a short time later with a shot of whiskey and a glass of beer.

  She placed the drinks on the table, then leaned toward Alejandro, giving him a clear view of her cleavage, which was quite spectacular. “You don’t work here anymore,” she said in a sultry voice.