Sunny's Safe Haven (The Red Petticoat Saloon)

by Vanessa Brooks

  He wasn’t old, but he had left his twenties behind him. A pretty girl with white blonde hair popped into his head and he shook it crossly, why did he keep thinking about that same girl? He hardly knew her. Perhaps it was jealousy because Dog had abandoned him for her, but no, he didn’t feel jealous about the dog. If anything, he was pleased that she had the animal’s company. Lord knows she was bereft of family support. He found himself wondering about the man who had fathered Stephanie’s baby.

  A thought so dark struck him that he had to rein in Mustang. Stephanie’s father, Mr. Kendrick, surely not? No, the man was livid with his daughter. If it had been his child, he’d have kept the filthy deed quiet and not bellowed it from the street corner the way he had, shaming his poor daughter and leaving her to face a miscarriage alone and without any family support.

  So who was the father? Why had he abandoned Stephanie and his child, refusing to marry her? He determined he would find out and, and do what? The thought of making a man marry Stephanie repulsed him, she deserved better. She deserved a man who would love and cherish her, provide for her, grow a family with her, giving her children to love and a home to care for. Again the image of the little house with the white picket fence popped into his brain. This time, Stephanie was seated upon the porch on a swing chair while she nursed a babe. No, it couldn’t be him. His work took him all over the west and it was dangerous. He surely wasn’t husband material.

  Tey realized that he had been halted for some considerable time and Mustang’s head was down, he was grazing. He looked about him focusing on the area and the ridge that still seemed a long way off. As he studied the line of rock, a brief but blinding flash suddenly appeared and was repeated. Someone was signaling, possibly using a mirror. Grimly Tey gathered up the reins and headed off again. It was his first clue and he intended to follow it up right now.

  ***

  Back in town, Stephanie was slowly becoming used to hearing her new name. She had spent some time out front with Amethyst, learning about the bar work and waitressing and she also helped Nettie out in the kitchen. Madam Jewel had taken her measurements to fit her for a bodice and pink petticoat.

  It was ten in the morning and most of the red petticoat gems were still abed but Charlie was in the saloon with Silver, his wife Emilie. They were practicing songs and Charlie began to play from some new sheet music. It was for a dance routine called the Can-can that was sweeping dance houses and saloons all across the country. Stephanie wandered in to listen, drawn by Emilie’s lovely voice. When Charlie began to play the tuneful, catchy dance music, she simply couldn’t keep her feet still and she had to twirl, spinning and dancing exuberantly to the rhythm, losing herself in the cheerful uplifting sound. When Charlie finished playing, she sank to the floor breathing heavily, tired out with the exercise but feeling wonderfully free of care.

  “Bravo Niña!” Gabe called as he, Charlie and Emilie, clapped for Stephanie.

  “I think we just found a role for you, Sunny!” He walked over to her offering her his hand. She took it and he pulled her upright. “We’ve had a couple of gems who danced for us; one was Jade, she was Chinese and the other was Sapphire. The patrons adored them both and they miss seeing a girl dance. How would you like to dance like you did just now, here every Friday and Saturday night?”

  Stephanie sucked in her breath. Could she do it, dance in front of all those gawking men? “I-I don’t know,” she stammered.

  “I’ll help you choreograph the steps, I have them right here, they arrived with the sheet music. You won’t have to dance publically until we have the perfect routine all worked out and ready to go. Say yes, Sunny, you’re a born natural!” Charlie encouraged enthusiastically.

  Stephanie looked from one man to the other, could she do this? She was a gem now and, if she was to become a red petticoat, then she had to be more assertive and dancing in public offered her a path to self-confidence. She would do it! “Yes!” she said.

  “Atta girl, Sunny, we’ll begin tomorrow, after Emilie and I work out the Can-can steps for you. You’ll be marvelous!” Charlie promised.

  “You’ll begin what tomorrow?” Jewel appeared behind the three of them. “Steph-Sunny, you should be resting. Oh my, you are perspiring and flushed, have you a fever, my dear?”

  Gabe stretched out an arm and tucked Jewel into his side. “Far from it, our niña has been dancing and she is really good. She will be an excellent replacement for Jade’s old spot on Fridays and Saturdays!”

  Jewel tugged herself way from Gabe. “No, Sunny is still fragile, it’s too soon!”

  “It’s all right querida, we shall wait until Doc Norwood gives her a clean bill of health but it won’t hurt for her to practice, just a little bit here and there with Charlie, will it?”

  “Please, Miz Jewel?” Stephanie pleaded.

  Jewel looked around the small hopeful group. “Very well, one hour a day practice and if you are tired or do not wish to dance, you say so. Understood, Sunny?”

  Stephanie hugged her. “Yes, ma’am!” she cried and rushed off to tell Nettie her news.

  ***

  Tey approached the overhang of the ridge with caution. He dismounted, keeping low as he made his way up the ledge on foot. The path became less pebble strewn and sandier as he crept toward the summit of the rock. He stopped and crouched. Horse tracks traveling up the ridge were overlaid by fresh tracks facing down the track. Whoever had been up here had only recently left. He had probably arrived only moments after them, yet he had met no one while he traveled upward. He straightened up and gave a sharp whistle. Mustang appeared from around the bend. Tey walked up onto the flat top of the ridge, the horse following on his heels. The view up there was spectacular, a full three hundred and sixty-degree panorama. Tey scanned the area below and caught sight of the tail end of a horse entering the trees further over from the route that he had taken.

  Then he turned his attention to the ground, walking about in slow circles, back and forth he went trying to spot something, anything that might be a clue to the identity of the man who had been up here. Of course, whoever had been here might have had nothing whatever to do with the gold thefts, but Tey had a strong suspicion that they had. Then, at last, he saw something small and white in the yellowing dirt. Squatting, he retrieved a pimp stub, as it was known out west. Tey studied the oddity, most men used chew, smoked a pipe or smoked querlies. Maybe even the occasional cheroot cigar, but few men out west bought ready-made cigarettes. Ready-made was deemed sissified by the tough ranchers and miners of California, who named them pimp sticks since the only people who had the money for such cigarettes were the wealthy dandified pimps back east. Tey gave a grim smile, his first clue then. He would see if the sheriff knew of anyone in Culpeper who smoked shop-bought pimps.

  Tey stayed one more night up at the mine before leaving at dawn on Saturday morning. He discussed his plan with Tressaire and the two men agreed that Tey would return Tuesday accompanied by his pair of young sidekicks. He needed to talk to Rupert Stowe, the bank manager, and although he balked at it, Tey knew that he needed to speak with Kendrick, Stephanie’s father.

  On the journey back, Tey mulled over his continuing attraction to Stephanie. He came to the conclusion that he needed to talk to both girls, Stephanie and Dottie. What he was going to say to each girl was a mystery even unto him. He only knew that he couldn’t continue to pay Dottie for her company while he was smitten with that little blonde cutie Stephanie. He’d move into the boarding house down the street and put the temptation of either girl out of reach. What he should really do, is concentrate solely on the Merit Mine problem but his cock had a very loud voice and he had to resolve this female issue he seemed to have fallen into, albeit unwittingly, before his manhood drummed all sense of reason out of his head.

  Chapter Seven

  Riding into town on Sunday, Tey noticed Dog lying in a patch of warm sunshine outside the Petticoat. Dog sat up at Mustang’s approach and yipped a greeting. Tey slowed the horse to a
stop and leaned on his saddle pummel, tilting his hat back better to see the dog.

  “We-ll, how do, stranger. You fixing to join us… or a planning on staying with the purdy lady?” he asked the animal.

  “Scamp… scamp, where are you-u?” a female voice called faintly from within.

  Tey looked at his dog with an outraged expression mouthing “Scamp” to the animal in silent horror. Dog whined and looked away, obviously embarrassed by the cute name.

  “Well heck, fella, don’t jus’ sit there. Get your backside up here on Mustang and come along with us.” To Tey’s disappointed surprise, the dog stayed right where he was, not meeting Tey’s eyes, whimpering pathetically.

  “Noo, you gonna stay and live here with that sissy name, boy?” He raised his brow in disbelief.

  “Sca-amp!” A girl’s sing song voice called louder.

  Dog turned and slunk inside under the saloon doors. Tey gave a strangulated gasp. “Aw heck...” he muttered. Shaking his head in disgust, he urged Mustang onward down the street, pretending he didn’t give a damn.

  Tey pulled up in front of the wood built boarding house run by Mr. William Bentley and his wife Mildred. Luck had it that William was seated out front on the stoop, whittling a broken chair leg. Tey hailed him from atop his horse and the man stood and sauntered over, leaning on the gate.

  “Soo, what can ah do for you, cowboy?” he asked.

  Tey shook his head, cowboy again. Hell, he was obviously in the wrong profession.

  “Howdy, the Merit Mining Company made me an indefinite reservation with you, name of Patrick Tey.”

  “That you?” William Bentley asked.

  “Yup, sure is, folks generally call me Tey.”

  William held up his hand and Tey leaned down to shake it.

  “There’s stabling around the back, two bits a day extra, or the liveries up the street. My wife Mildred cooks supper if’n you want but we need a day’s notice, that’ll cost you four bits a meal. Breakfast’s included daily in the room board.”

  “I’ll take the stabling but not the supper, thanks all the same.”

  “Fair enough, you take your horse an’ settle it round back. I’ll meet you inside, cowboy.”

  Tey nodded his thanks and turned Mustang, heading round the back, muttering yet again he’d been mistaken for a darn cowpoke.

  His room was fine, well, even with the tired and peeling wallpaper it was more than fine. It was fresh, reasonably clean and roomy. The curtains, chair cushions and counterpane were covered in pretty chintzy roses but he could live with that. Mildred brought him fresh towels and a new bar of soap, placing them on the washstand. Ty poured water from the ewer into the ceramic basin to clean up before he donned a fresh shirt. In fact, the boarding house was real homey and the folks who ran it seemed friendly and open. Tey liked them and he soon decided that he would enjoy some homely touches while he had the chance. He felt quite cheerful when he set off, walking back up to the Red Petticoat where he intended to talk to Dottie.

  Tey checked his guns in with Amethyst; he was uncomfortable about it but he needed a whiskey. He grinned ear to ear when she jiggled her breasts at him over the bar, enticing him to drop his coin into her cleavage, which he did readily, needing no further persuasion. He took his drink over to a table and sat down to await Peridot’s attention. She was over on the far side of the saloon and hadn’t spotted him yet.

  Tey took off his dark hat and placed it beside him on the table. He leaned back in his chair and watched the gems at work. He spotted Silver and saw the Sheriff’s wife Ruby who was working tonight. The saloon was only a quarter full, it being a Sunday night. He watched the girls adeptly sliding between the tables and serving drinks. He pondered on the sheriff allowing his wife to work among men, especially when he noted she was pregnant. It wasn’t something he’d ever allow his wife to do, work in a saloon. To hell with that, she’d not work, period; she’d better not argue with him over the fact, or her cute little ass would come into sharp contact with his hand.

  “Howdy, cowboy, how was your trip outa town?” Dottie tried to slide onto his knee. Tey gently pushed her away and pulled out a chair, indicating that she should sit. She flounced onto the seat with a pretty pout.

  “Cut that out, Per—Dottie. I need to have some serious talk with you,” Tey growled. Dottie sat up looking interested.

  “We had some great slap an’ tickle, Dottie, an’ I sure as dammit don’t wanna hurt your feelings. You’re a real pretty girl, but while I was outa town I couldn’t stop thinking ‘bout that little Stephanie girl.” Tey paused to let that sink in. Dottie nodded and put her elbows on the table, her chin cupped in her hands, watching his face.

  “You know I thought you were smitten with Sunny but....”

  “Who? No, I’m talking about Stephanie, the little blonde girl stayin’ here, y’know?”

  “Yeah, I know, she’s staying on here an’ working at the Petticoat. She’s gonna be called Sunny, that’s her new gem name an’…”

  Tey froze as Dottie’s words sank in. He felt as though thin slivers of ice were flowing through his veins. “What?” he interrupted.

  Dottie took one look at Tey’s set face and halted mid-sentence. “Er…”

  “Where’s Madam Jewel?” he growled. Dottie pointed her out; she was down by the piano where Silver was preparing to sing. Tey left without so much as a nod to Dottie. She gave a heavy sigh. Why could she not have caught Tey’s full attention? Dammit. Truth was she fancied the handsome man but she didn’t love him any more than he loved her. She glanced across at a nearby table where a tall shaggy haired, blue eyed man was seated. Well, howdy-doody, things were looking up, that there was one helluva good looking fella. Dottie pushed her hands up into her luxuriant locks and slipped out of the chair, sidling over to the man who soon noticed her and patted his knee with a welcoming grin plastered across his rugged face.

  “Tell me what was I supposed to do, Mr. Tey? Sunny has nowhere else to go and I was not about to turn her out into the street!”

  “Look, Stephanie’s an innocent; she was taken advantage of, see? She jus’ ain’t cut out for this type of work.”

  “I tend to agree with you but this was her decision. I suggest that you take the argument up with her and not me!”

  “Is everything all right over here querida?” Gabe came up behind Jewel and placed his hands in a proprietary manner upon her shoulders, whilst casting a wary eye over Tey.

  “Yes fine!” Jewel snapped, incensed with Tey.

  Gabe leaned in and whispered against her hair, for her ears only. “I think that a lesson in how you answer your man will have to be given before we retire tonight, mi corazon.”

  Jewel stiffened but, other than a rising flush from the base of her throat, she gave no indication that she had heard him. Gabe’s eyes glittered as he stepped aside, greeting Tey affably, thereby diffusing the situation.

  “I am sure that Sunny will be delighted to see you again. She is much better and the doctor is coming tomorrow to check her over and, after he has seen her, we hope to clear her ready for light duties.”

  Before Tey could open his mouth, Gabe pointed him toward the private door that led into the back of house. “Go see her and talk with her, you have my permission to go back of house.”

  Tey nodded brusquely and walked over to the door as indicated. He didn’t trust himself to answer, riled up as he was.

  He found Stephanie in the kitchen with Nettie and a pretty blonde woman who introduced herself as Louise Rockwell, the mayor’s wife.

  “Louise used to be known as Lapis, she worked here before she married her husband, Mayor Rockwell,” Stephanie told him brightly.

  “Really?” Tey answered tersely.

  Stephanie turned to stare at him, her attention caught by his sour tone. “Um, is everything all right with you?” she asked, her head tilted as she studied his set face.

  “Jus’ fine an’ dandy,” he answered shortly, “I wanted to talk to you, alo
ne.”

  Stephanie nodded. “I thought you might want to talk about Scamp, I mean Dog. I-I sort of gave him a real name.”

  Tey nodded. Let her think that was what he wanted to talk about. A tick began in his lower jaw. He noticed the pretty blonde, Louise, was staring at him; a small frown furrowed her brow. After a moment she wagged her finger at him. “You’re mad, don’t deny it, I can tell. You don’t get to live with a man and not pick up signs of male rancor,” she stated firmly.

  Stephanie walked up to Tey, looking him up and down. “Are you angry ‘bout Dog? I felt sure you wouldn’t mind me giving him a proper name.”

  “I don’t… well, maybe jus’ a bit, but no, I want to talk about something completely different.”

  “Oh, all right. Let’s go to my room; we can talk there.”

  “Sunny honey, you sure ‘bout taking this man into your bedroom?” Louise asked anxiously, “he looks kinda wound up to me.”

  The three women jumped when Tey barked, “Stephanie. Her name is Stephanie not Sunny!” He gripped Stephanie’s arm and marched her out of the kitchen. As the door swung shut behind them, Tey overheard Louise say, “Jumping jehosophat, that girl’s in a heap of trouble!”

  Well ain’t that the truth, Tey agreed grimly.

  Stephanie was astonished when Tey shoved her into her bedroom and slammed the door behind them. He strode inside and took a seat on her bed, displacing Dog, who jumped down and shot underneath the bed, sensing his master’s angst. Tey clasped Stephanie’s wrist and pulled her to stand between his open knees.

  “I missed you,” he told her, studying her face.

  “Um, that’s nice,” she replied after a moment’s silence.

  He frowned. “You didn’t miss me?” he asked.

  “Well, yes-s,” she replied warily; where was this leading?

  “I spoke to Dottie.”

  She nodded, not knowing what else to say.

  “So that’s all straightened out.”

  She frowned, what exactly had he straightened out?