“Nope.”
And now he had two bad feelings.
Hiring Tomasina Stone was either an inspired idea or a terrible mistake. She’d occupied far too many of his thoughts lately. He’d noticed a gradual shift in the routine of his day. He sought her out on the flimsiest of excuses. This morning’s walk was only one example. He simply enjoyed hearing her laugh or watching her lovely, expressive face when he goaded her. Her happiness had become vitally important to him. Except he knew what she wanted—she wanted out of Cowboy Creek.
He wasn’t ready to make her that happy. “Then you accept my offer?”
“I do.”
“Magnanimous of you.” He was living on borrowed time with her. Sooner or later she’d leave. She was a drover at heart. He’d simply enjoy the time they had. “Try not to kill any of the guests.”
“I’m not making any promises.”
* * *
Tomasina stared at Mrs. Foster. “Are you joking? Please tell me you’re joking.”
Mrs. Foster pinched her lips together as though gathering herself before she spoke. “I can assure you this is a very serious matter. Mr. Finley’s room must be cleaned.”
“But he’s disgusting.” Tomasina pinched her nose against the putrid stench. “Have you looked in there? What kind of person lives like that?”
“Mr. Finley lives like that, as you’ve taken great pains to specify. And it is your job to clean up after Mr. Finley. That is the job Mr. Canfield hired you to do.”
Tomasina grimaced. Did Will have something against her? Work as a maid was difficult and thankless. Was this job punishment for defying his mandate about the rodeo? This must be a veiled reprimand of some sort. There was no other reasonable explanation.
She snuck a peak at the mess once more and reared back. “Is this the usual type of cleanup?”
“Mr. Finley is perhaps more extreme than most of our guests. He also pays his bill on time and doesn’t cause a ruckus. Because of that, Mr. Rumsford allows a certain degree of leniency.”
“Mr. Rumsford should get a whiff of this odor the next time he decides to be lenient.”
“Be that as it may, Mr. Finley is a guest, and we are required to straighten his room and change his linens.”
“If you say so.”
“I do say so. If you’ll excuse me, I have my own work to do.”
Tomasina wrinkled her nose and entered the room. She was used to cleaning up after animals, but picking up after human folks was an entirely different story. At least animals were predictable in their messes. She plucked a coffee cup from the side table and grimaced at the contents. She’d never seen coffee turn furry before.
A half an hour later she’d straightened Mr. Finley’s room and started on the next. After seeing how people lived behind closed doors, she’d developed some personal judgments about the folks living in the hotel. A lot of them could use some basic instruction on hygiene and organization. Even living on the trail for the better part of her life, she’d had some standards. Standards a few more folks residing here should embrace.
A miniature bed frame and wardrobe sat in the corner. Furniture samples. She should have known this guest was a traveling salesman. No self-respecting cowboy would be caught dead wearing the shade of burgundy coloring the trousers draped over the bed frame.
She stripped the linens and her toe bumped something beneath the bed. Kneeling, she raised the dust ruffle. Gracious, the man even had dirty dishes beneath the bed. They’d have all manner of vermin in here before long.
Crouching lower, she stretched out her hand and reached for the plate.
A sharp smack landed on her bottom.
Tomasina yelped and started, cracking her head on the bed frame. Heart pounding, she scooted out and whipped around.
A man sporting a dandified three-piece suit and a horseshoe of fluffy gray hair stared down at her. He was as round as he was tall, with the shape of an enormous egg.
The man leered at her. “Don’t forget the fresh water, love. The last maid was always forgetting my fresh towels, as well.”
Tomasina rubbed her backside and glared. “You lay a hand on me again, and I’ll wrap that towel around your neck and squeeze.”
The lecherous grin widened. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you?” Rubbing his hands together, the man took a menacing step forward. “You know what I like to do with feisty little morsels like you? I like to teach them a lesson.”
Narrowing her gaze, she focused her attention on the man. He had at least two hundred pounds on her. She’d have to use her wits against his brawn.
Groping behind her, she reached for the lamp on the side table. “Oh, yeah? I’d like to see you try.”
Chapter Ten
Will heard the commotion all the way on the third floor. He set aside the sheriff’s report and stood. Stretching his back, he considered the news the sheriff had provided. The Cowboy Café had been robbed. The Cowboy Café. What sort of outlaws robbed an eatery? The Murdoch Gang was desperate if they were stealing slices of pie.
He swung open the door and discovered Simon dashing toward the stairs.
“What’s going on?” Will asked.
Without pausing, the porter called over his shoulder, “Trouble with one of the guests. Don’t worry, Mrs. Foster and Mr. Rumsford have been fetched.”
“Then why are you needed?”
“I’m not needed. I just don’t want to hear about this secondhand.”
“A little decorum, please. This is a hotel, not a sideshow.”
Since he’d finished his ledgers already, Will reached for his coat and walking stick and followed the sounds of excited chattering. He turned the corner of the second-floor landing and halted.
Rubbing his forehead, he studied the strange scene. A rather overweight patron was flat on his back in the center of the corridor. He’d been trussed up like a calf, his hands and feet tied to each other and strung together in the middle. The hotel staff had formed a crescent around the odd sight.
Mrs. Foster knelt beside the man and struggled with the ropes. “Be still, sir. You’re making the knots tighter.”
Will frantically searched for the obvious culprit. Tomasina stood with her arms crossed and one shoulder propped against the wall. She didn’t appear any worse for wear, and the air whooshed from his lungs.
“I wouldn’t get too close to that one, Mrs. Foster,” Tomasina said. “He’s got busy fingers.”
In his weekly report Mr. Rumsford had indicated several complaints lodged against Mr. Daniels. Will’s annoyance flared. Though he didn’t know the guest personally, he recognized the traveling salesman by reputation.
“This is outrageous!” The man tipped back his head and caught sight of Will. “Help me! This woman tried to kill me.”
Pushing off from the wall, Tomasina planted her hands on her hips and glared down at the man. “You’d know if I was trying to kill you because you’d be dead. I was teaching you a lesson. You seem big on lessons, fellow. You remember promising to teach me one? I was returning the favor, is all.”
Though shaken, the man appeared uninjured. His pride was more wounded than his physical person. And who could blame him? The gathering crowd of hotel workers and guests didn’t help the situation. The salesman deserved a little humiliation, but there was no benefit in letting the situation spiral out of control.
Will braced both hands on his cane and widened his stance. “What exactly happened here, Mr. Daniels?”
“This woman trussed me up for no reason.”
Tomasina inhaled sharply, and Will silenced her with an almost-imperceptible shake of his head. Let the man dig his own hole. “Are you telling me this wee maid overtook a man of your size and stature all alone? You must have two hundred pounds on her. How did she manage? Did she have an accompl
ice, perhaps?”
“She caught me by surprise, she did.”
Will turned toward Tomasina and hoisted an eyebrow. “I assume there’s a reasonable explanation for this.”
“I’d rather tell you in private.”
He waved her nearer. She leaned forward and whispered her explanation in his ear. With each subsequent word, his wrath grew.
“Mr. Daniels,” Will declared, “I believe it’s time for you to check out of this establishment. The Cattleman Hotel is no longer interested in your business.”
Mrs. Foster, who appeared no closer to unraveling the knots, heaved a sigh. “It’s about time.”
Will reached into his pocket for the collapsible knife he’d carried since his days in the army and stepped toward the prone man. “You’re going to slink quietly back into your room, pack your belongings and check out of the hotel. If you cause another ruckus, I will tie you up myself and dump you at the edge of town. Do we have an understanding?”
Despite his predicament, the man remained unrepentant. “I’m reporting the lot of you to the sheriff.”
“That’s a superb idea.” Will snapped his fingers. “Simon, fetch Sheriff Davis. While you’re out, run by the newspaper offices and summon D.B. Burrows. He can write up a story for the morning edition. I’ll request a front-page article. If you don’t mind waiting, I’ll even have the photographer, John Cleve, set up his equipment. A photo for your scrapbook.”
The man scowled. “That’s blackmail. I won’t have my name dragged through the mud.”
Will neatly sliced through the ropes. “One more word and I’ll drag more than your name.”
Mr. Daniels sprang upright with surprising agility for a man of his size and girth. He rubbed his wrists and glared. “This is an outrage. My superiors at Baker Furniture will get a full accounting of this incident.”
Will ignored the furious muttering and faced the crowd of cooks and bellhops. “The show is over. Everyone back to work.”
When a certain trouble-making redhead turned away as well, Will caught her arm. “Except for you and Simon.”
Mr. Daniels slammed the door behind him with a last furious curse.
Will bade Simon keep an eye on the man. “Make sure you escort him out of the hotel. I’ll contact Sheriff Davis and see that Mr. Daniels leaves town on the first train. In the future, let’s be more discerning of our guests. There’s no reason the maids have to put up with this nonsense.”
Simon touched his cap. “Will do, boss.”
The mere idea of someone laying a hand on Tomasina filled Will with rage. While he admired her actions, he wasn’t leaving her vulnerable again. She’d been here less than a week, and the woman was giving him gray hairs. She was a magnet for trouble. There weren’t enough guns in the county to keep her from disaster.
Tomasina sidled toward the stairs.
“I’d like a word with you, Miss Stone.”
“Don’t go blaming me for what happened back there,” she seethed. “That fellow had it coming.”
He propped his walking stick against the wall and limped the distance. “Your actions with Mr. Daniels were warranted, and I rather admire your restraint. I don’t believe he realizes how much worse things might have gone for him.”
“He has no idea.”
“It’s clear this position isn’t a good fit.” He rubbed his forehead with a thumb and forefinger. “You might be more suited for kitchen work.”
Something behind the scenes where she didn’t cross paths with lecherous guests. The hotel was better than the laundry. There’d be no more pink shirts. There’d be no more cleaning guest rooms. He’d find a nice, peaceful solution to her employment dilemma.
She swallowed. “Kitchen work?”
“I don’t think housekeeping suits you.”
“Agreed.”
“Don’t forget, the staff has Friday off for a dance celebrating the town’s founding.” He searched her animated face, drawn toward the smudge of dirt on her nose. “I trust you’re attending?”
“I don’t dance, but Hannah is looking forward to attending.”
“I’m glad the two of you are getting along well.”
“Like a house on fire.”
She had one foot propped on the stairs as though she might flee at any moment. He placed a hand on the door frame and leaned forward. The enchanting smattering of freckles beckoned him, and he touched her nose.
“You have a smudge.”
Her gaze dropped to his mouth. “Oh.”
The air between them crackled. She had only to duck under his arm and slip away. She didn’t move.
This was madness, and yet he couldn’t resist dropping a chaste kiss on her forehead. He immediately liked the feel of her warm skin beneath his lips but forced himself to pull away.
“Stay out of trouble,” he said, his voice thick.
With a swish of her skirts she was gone, leaving his heart clattering against his ribs. He’d only been near her for a moment, and yet he could map each and every freckle on her delightful, troublemaking nose.
Straightening his lapels, he turned away from the stairs. Kitchen work better suit her, because he was running out of other options. Having her near meant more to him than he cared to admit to himself.
The little firebrand was burrowing her way into his affections, and she didn’t fit his plans any more than he fit into her future. As much as he admired her pluck and those luminous green eyes, they weren’t suited for one another. She’d never stay put. She’d never settle for the staid life of a politician’s wife. She’d wither beneath the restrictions. She was a wild thing, that one. His chest burned with the truth.
Wild things weren’t meant to be tamed.
* * *
Fifteen minutes later Tomasina dumped her load of linens in the rolling hamper, glanced up and realized the next room on her list belonged to her and Hannah. In deference to her new roommate, Tomasina knocked softly. The living arrangement had been working out well enough thus far. She’d never had much privacy beyond the basics in her life. Hannah, on the other hand, put great stock in her time alone.
The only child of a preacher was probably used to being alone. Since Tomasina didn’t spend much time in her room anyway, after a few missteps, they’d become accustomed to one another.
Hannah had also been watching more and more of Ava recently. Because Will’s office was also located in his suite, he’d moved them to a larger room with an adjoining parlor that they’d turned into a nursery. Only one lingering concern nagged at her.
Having watched her in close quarters, Tomasina had begun to worry that Hannah was growing too attached to the baby. Will’s self-imposed timeline was about to lapse, which meant placing the child with a permanent family in the very near future. When that happened, Tomasina feared Hannah’s reaction.
The door opened, and Hannah waved her inside. “I’ve got Ava this afternoon, but she’s not sleeping. There’s no need to be quiet.”
“Thank goodness.”
Tomasina entered the room and flopped on the bed. Ava was lying on her back on a blanket spread over the floor, cooing and clasping her hands. Hannah brushed her skirts aside and knelt beside the baby.
“You going to the dance?” Tomasina asked.
“I don’t think so. Someone has to stay and watch Ava.”
“Mrs. Foster already volunteered. She said she’s far too old for dances and she can’t stay up past nine anymore. She also said...” Tomasina assumed a falsetto voice. “‘The band plays far too many reels. It’s not dignified, a lady of my age, hopping about.’”
Hannah giggled and smoothed her hair from her face. “Do you think the drovers are invited?”
“Pretty girls and free food? They’ll show.” Tomasina linked her fingers behind her head. “Any part
icular drover you were hoping to see?”
Hannah blushed. “No. Of course not. I just wondered.”
“You’re one of the prospective brides. Makes sense you’d want to check out all the possibilities. I’ve seen you turn down two of the fellows from town already. I just thought maybe you had someone particular in mind.” Tomasina paused. “Why do you want to get married anyway?”
“I don’t want to stay in my father’s house forever. I want my own home. My own things. I want my own family.”
Rubbing her chin, Tomasina considered her new roommate. “I guess that makes sense.”
She’d always considered her and her father a team. She’d never much thought of them as a family. Her and James and her pa. Now that the team had parted ways, she realized how much she’d taken for granted. They had been a family. Maybe not in the traditional sense, but they’d cobbled together a reasonable imitation.
Somehow she’d thought they’d go on the same indefinitely. She’d never much considered the future. How naive she’d been. Things couldn’t stay the same forever, yet she’d given no thought to what she’d do if her life changed.
Tomasina raised her head. “At least you have a skill. You can sew. A lady who can take care of herself doesn’t need a fellow.”
“There’re other reasons to have a fellow. Love. Companionship. Children.”
Will would be a wonderful father. He was patient and kind. He wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable. He was different from her pa in that regard. Her father had loved her, but he’d preferred her once she was able to care for herself. He’d never had much use for helpless things.
“I’d rather be you.” Hannah braced her hands behind her and leaned back. “You’re independent. You can do whatever you want. Fall in love with whomever you want.”
Tomasina narrowed her gaze. “What are you getting at?”
“What if you fell in love with the wrong man? What would your father have done?”
“Probably shot him.”
“Oh, my.”
“Not to kill, of course. Just to maim. Pa was a good shot.” Tomasina stared at the ceiling. “What about your pa?”
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