“Really?” he spat. “You certainly seemed hell-bent on aggravating me this morning.”
“You, yes, but not your wound. Here, let me,” she said and pushed his hand aside to replace it with her strong fingers. Her hands were small, but the hours spent flexing them around needle and thread proved them able, and she worked deeply and languidly over his lower back. Soon, he was relaxing into her touch and praying it would never end. Her massaging hands could easily rival Juliet’s.
“Is zat all right?” she asked, and his eyes opened, darting from one end of the room to the other.
“Uh…maybe a little bit lower and spread out more.”
She complied and he fought the urge to grin as her fingertips worked his skin through the wet fabric. The heat from her flesh mingled with the coolness of the garment, creating a pleasing sensation deep in his belly. She pressed and massaged. He could almost feel the apology in her movements.
“How is zat?” she asked. “Any better?”
“Oh,” he forced a woeful moan. “Perhaps if I lie down, it will subside.”
“Yes. Please, lie down. Can I help you at all?”
“Just keep working your hands over the area. It’s already feeling better.”
He went to his stomach with a wicked grin and settled into a comfortable position, propping the throw pillow beneath his head. Collette continued to ply and work his lower back until a sheen of sweat highlighted her face. He couldn’t help himself. He chuckled as his eyes closed.
“Just like that, Frenchie,” he said. “You’re doing it juuust right.”
Her fingers paused for a moment, and then picked up where they’d left off.
“Like zees, Monsieur?” Her voice suddenly turned sweet as honey.
“Mmm, oui.”
“Wait here a minute,” she said suggestively. “I think I have just vut you need.”
“I believe you do,” he said, filling his head with carnal visions.
He burrowed deeper into the couch when she disappeared. A moment later, he was doused by another wave of water and he jumped up once again.
“Dammit, woman! What the hell?”
“I am not some witless twat for you to manipulate,” she shot, setting the pitcher down again as she pointed a finger at him. “It vill be a stone cold day in hell before you earn another scrap of seempathy from me, you presumptuous peacock!”
Val almost chuckled at the way her tongue rolled over the “r” in the word, “scrap,” but he was too irritated. And cold.
“I wasn’t after your sympathy,” he said, pulling the wet shirt over his head. Her eyes rolled over his naked chest before she took a step back and grabbed the fire poker.
“You vill not be getting zat from me, either.” She raised the poker and held it high.
He scowled at the notion. “Do you really think I would force myself on a woman?” When she didn’t answer he shook his head, exasperated. “I don’t intend to walk back to Ellie’s with a wet shirt.”
She rolled her eyes. “You are in a clothing shop, Val. I think zer are spares here.”
“Good,” he said. “I just spent six months fighting to get back to decent health, and not so I can catch my death because some crazy she-cat is hell-bent on using me to sharpen her claws.”
“Vell, you just keep zose claws in mind if you ever theenk of coming near me again.”
“Oh, don’t you worry,” he assured. “I like my women soft and sultry, not stiff and shrill!”
“Good, because I vill never be your woman, Valentine Kelly.”
“I wasn’t making you an offer.” He hung his coat and wet shirt over his arm, scowling in her direction.
“You certainly did last night and at the spring.”
He smacked his lips and held his hands out wide in supplication. “Half a year of celibacy will make a man desperate. What can I say?” Limping toward his cane, he snatched it up with all of the frustration he felt. “Seeing as how you’re impervious to my charm, however, I’ll remove myself from your presence.”
She lowered the fire poker and smiled. Her nostrils flared and her cheeks twitched as she pinched her lips together. Giggles worked up from her belly and through her mouth. She covered them with her hands and laughed into her palm. Once the initial confusion moved through him, he found himself smiling along with her.
“I’m glad you find it amusing that I think you’re impervious to my charm.”
“Oh, I don’t,” she answered, wiping light tears from her eyes. “I find it amusing zat you think you have charm.”
The smile dropped from his face, and she laughed harder. To hell with her. She was too much torture to stomach in the early morning. He stomped through the shop and yanked a shirt from its hanger, throwing it on before stuffing his arms into his coat. He let himself out, hearing the echo of her laughter ringing between his ears the entire way back to the boarding house.
“That takes care of that,” Collette smirked as she pulled the window curtain aside and watched Val stalk angrily down the street. He held the cane but didn’t use it to support his weight. Instead, he batted and stabbed the air with it, probably envisioning her smug expression as he went. The thought made her chuckle. “Even did a bit of good for his gait, I wager.”
“You are a vicious creature,” Helene said, emerging from the bedroom with a book in hand.
“Nonsense,” she said, glowering at her sister. “Men like Valentine Kelly need women like me to remind them they are not God’s gift to our gender.”
“But do you have to be so brutal about it?”
Collette laughed. “That’s half the fun.” When Helene scowled at her, she rolled her eyes and swatted the air. “Oh, it makes no never mind now. We won’t be seeing him again anytime soon.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
“Why do you say that?”
Helene smirked and raised a suggestive eyebrow as she showed Collette her appointment book. “Your noon fitting today is at Ellie’s for her wedding gown.”
Collette felt the weight of a hot stone sink into her belly at the thought of facing Val twice in one day, but there was no way she could back out on Ellie. The woman’s wedding was a month away, and she was busier than Collette in preparation for it. Both of their schedules were packed. Rescheduling was not an option. She would simply have to endure Val and his remarks. Helene was watching her, so she schooled her expression and smiled.
“I am not afraid of Val. Today’s appointment will be like any other.”
“Good. Shall I prepare Ellie’s gown for travel then?”
“Yes, please. I’ll go open the store.”
No sooner had she opened for business than Caroline glided through the door like a fragrant wisp of air. The woman may work in a brothel, but it never occurred to her to be ashamed by it, something Collette admired. She was not like Juliet’s other women, who ducked their heads and never looked a person in the eye in the full light of day. Though Collette didn’t agree with the lifestyle, she was much more open-minded about the path that likely led them there, and she would never turn them away.
She’d never forget the day she met the Madame eight months ago. The woman had sent her teenaged son into the shop to ask for some light tailoring on her behalf. Juliet feared offending Collette or jeopardizing business with her presence. The show of shame tore at Collette’s heart, and she’d marched straight down the street and knocked on the brothel door, declaring to Juliet that she and her women were welcome customers any time. Juliet didn’t need to be told twice.
Collette smiled brightly in greeting.
“Good morning, Caroline.”
“Yes, it is,” she returned, stopping at the counter. “And the same to you.”
“Vut can I do for you?”
“Oh, I just came to see how Val was this morning. He was in a pretty bad way last night. I apologize, again, for putting the burden on you.”
“You needn’t vorry about me or Valentine Kelly. Ve are both fine, thank y
ou. But how are you faring? You’ve only been here a month. Do you find za place agreeable?”
Caroline pursed her lips and tilted her head from side to side. “I feel like there might be a future here. There’s lots of money and lots of men.”
Collette frowned. “Do you expect to remain in your line of work permanently?”
“I don’t know,” Caroline said with a shrug. “I mean, what else is there? It’s not like any man will want to marry me, you know?”
“I vusn’t talking about marriage,” Collette said. “A voman can support herself vithout a man’s help.”
“True, but I don’t want to live without men. I’d be happy with just one, though. Don’t you ever want to get settled down and find a husband?”
Collette’s lips curled in disgust. “Ugh. I vud rather use my eye as a pin cushion.”
“Ouch! That’s a pretty strong reaction.” Caroline smirked in her direction. “Sounds like you know what you’re talking about. You been married before?”
Collette bit the inside of her cheek. “No, but one does not have to ride a wild horse to know she vill be bucked.”
“So, don’t ride the wild ones.”
Her head snapped up as she lost all former amusement. “Horses, like men, are all wild in zer own ways. Zey are unpredictable, uncontrollable and far more powerful zan you or I.”
Caroline’s hazel eyes darkened with pity. “I didn’t mean to prick a nerve. Just making friendly conversation is all. I’d best be getting back to Juliet’s now. You’ll let me know when my new gowns are ready for a fitting?”
“Of course. Good day, Caroline.” Collette turned away and was happy to hear the soft shut of the shop door behind her.
Chapter 7
Not even a morning spent traversing heated mine shafts could warm the chill of his encounter with Collette. Hours later, he still shivered thinking of her taunting words. The woman was trouble incarnate, a miserable shrew. What a shame she should be so beautiful. It was wasted on her disposition. He decided whatever secrets she hid, she could keep. It wasn’t worth the amount of effort to unearth. As long as she kept her deceit far from him and anyone else he cared about, it made no difference to whom she lied.
With a constant spasm in his back, Val knew he had overdone it in the past few days. He should have taken the morning off to let his muscles rest, but he was tired of feeling weak. If barreling through each day with nothing but sheer will was the way to reclaim his strength, then he would do it. After six hours in the mine, though, he felt his legs begin to give out, and he soon became a burden to Sandy. At the man’s urgings, Val finally relented and decided to end his work day.
They shook hands and Val limped through the streets of Gold Hill to Ellie’s. He looked up from his musings and whistled at the shiny black carriage parked in front of the boarding house. The driver sat with a stiff back and a fixed gaze on the world ahead. The two horses harnessed to the rig were just as black and shiny, their heads arched proudly. Ellie’s helper, a young woman named Sadie, was outside offering a cup of coffee to the driver, who dismissed her with a curt nod. She smiled politely at the man before joining Val as he climbed up the steps to the front porch.
“Who is the money bags?” Val asked.
“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough, Mr. Kelly.”
“I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
“He’s waiting for you.”
“Who?”
She smiled slyly. “Mr. Money Bags.”
He opened the door for her and entered the house only to be met by a flustered Ellie. She rushed to Val, flapping her hands erratically like butterfly wings. Val chuckled at the sight as she was usually so composed.
“What’s got you all worked up, Ellie?” he asked.
“Do you have any idea who is sitting in my parlor?” She scolded and tucked strands of loose, dark hair into the bun at her neck. “Leonard Stacy, that’s who. He’s been waiting here for over an hour, and he’s none too pleased about it.”
Val frowned. “He sure is tenacious, isn’t he? The man simply won’t take no for an answer. How the hell did he know I was back already? It’s only been a week.”
“There is very little that goes on in this town without my knowing about it, Mr. Kelly,” a cool voice called from the parlor entryway. “Now, if you’d care to step inside the parlor with me we can expound upon the topic further.”
Val narrowed his eyes at the open doorway, where he heard the man tap his cane twice on the floor in summons. He raised an eyebrow and snorted. Ellie and Sadie stifled their giggles before Ellie shoved him toward the open door. Val took a deep breath. The day started off badly and only seemed to be getting worse.
He shut the door behind him and went to the settee because the only chair in the room was occupied by Leonard Stacy. Railroad tycoon, mine investor, newspaper owner and millionaire, the man had presence, and it possessed the room. His fingers curled around the arms of the chair, his ankle crossed over a knee. He settled into the cushion while staring down his nose at Val.
Val returned the glare. He didn’t take kindly to intimidation or to the bloated sense of worth money gave some men. Leonard Stacy was no better than the scores of Chinese migrant workers he sent into the earth for his riches. He was born like they were and someday he would die. Just like the rest of them. There was nothing to recommend him as a great man in Val’s eyes. He didn’t even show the respect due Ellie by removing his hat indoors. That alone fed Val’s already growing dislike.
“Mr. Kelly,” Stacy began, steepling his hands beneath his chin. “One thing I detest is losing sleep at night.”
“Can’t say I disagree with you, there.”
“So, imagine my frustration at suffering several sleepless nights at your expense. You seem intent to thwart my wishes at every turn –”
“The only wishes of yours I care about thwarting are the ones determined to thwart mine.”
Stacy’s hawk eyes narrowed at the interruption. “As I was saying…I often pace at night, wondering what motivation would make a man like Valentine Kelly do something foolish, like turn down thirty thousand dollars for a few hundred feet of mining rights.”
“Most likely the same motivation that would make a man like Leonard Stacy do something foolish, like offer thirty thousand dollars for a few hundred feet of mining rights. You and I both know there’s enough silver down there to make your offer the biggest laugh of the county.”
Stacy ran his thumb and forefinger over his bearded jawline. “And then it occurred to me this little thorn in my side is the product of something simple. Pride, Mr. Kelly. You are a man of considerable pride. You are proud of your ownership, of you and your brother’s ingenuity in the mill design and early prospecting maps of the area. It’s your legacy, so to speak, and I admire your tenacity in wanting to hold onto it. Which is why I have come here with a different kind of offer for you.”
For the first time since the man opened his mouth, he had Val’s full attention. “I’m listening.”
“The snow has melted in the foothills between here and Reno, and construction can now begin on the new railroad.”
“The new railroad?”
“You heard me correctly. The quartz reduction mills around here are too small for the amount of production, and it would take too long and cost too much to transport ore all the way to the larger mills in Reno via coach. The risk of robbery is too great, as your friend David reminded us last year.” Stacy paused and stared at him. It took some effort, but Val hid the tight clench of his jaw at the mention of David. “The most cost-efficient mode of transportation is by rail. So, I aim to build a stretch of track from Virginia City to Reno. Thirty-one miles. We will ship ore out of here and in return, Reno will supply both Virginia City and Carson City with the amount of lumber needed to feed the growth. Several contracts are already in place between the mills and the Sierra Railroad Company.”
Val rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “And what does this have to do with me?
”
Stacy’s slim mouth curled into a smirk. “I think you and I both know that, whether you maintain the mining rights or not, your days of actually working in the earth are over.” The man’s eyes flicked to Val’s cane. “I’m offering you a managerial position, a position in which you will help oversee the building of the railroad with a handsome annual salary plus a hefty amount of stock shares.”
Val relaxed against the couch and laughed. “You think that is a better deal than the thirty thousand?”
“You misunderstand me,” Stacy cautioned as his index finger tapped the air. “I am offering you the railroad package in addition to the thirty thousand, not in lieu of it.”
The laughter ceased and Val’s features fell in shock. He swallowed. “Why the hell would you do that?”
“Because, Mr. Kelly, I will go to any lengths to get what I want.” His voice lowered. “And I want your mine.”
“And you always get what you want, eh?”
“Always.”
The man had verve and the resources to back it up, but Val wasn’t interested in joining the railroad business. He didn’t want to run a crew of men in an enterprise he knew nothing about. His needs were simple: work his mine, keep his money, move on when he felt the urge. Stacy thought he was offering a better deal, but all Val saw was a more complicated life in the man’s employ. He liked being his own master and valued that freedom above any amount of money.
“I guess there is a first time for everything. I’m afraid you won’t be getting what you want in this situation. My answer is still no, Mr. Stacy, but I thank you for making the offer yourself this time, instead of sending your henchmen.”
Val stood and grabbed his cane, walking toward the parlor door when Stacy’s thin voice cut through the clomping of his footfalls.
“You know, Mr. Kelly, I had hoped we could come to some amicable agreement as gentleman, but of course I have…other…methods of persuasion at my disposal.”
Val’s hand fell away from the doorknob as he turned to level a stare at the man. “That sounds an awful lot like a threat. I advise you not to go down that path with me. It will not end well for you.”
Desert Sunrise (Love in the Sierras Book 2) Page 5
