“For pity’s sake, man, shut up.” Booker glared up at Rummy with a look that would have stopped the devil himself. He yanked the man down into the chair beside him at a small corner table. In a whisper, Booker spoke his mind. “I don’t go by that name anymore.”
Rummy’s eyes widened. “Well, why didn’t you say so?”
“I just did,” Booker growled. “The name is Booker Duran.” He held his hand out as if to shake the other man’s hand, but Rummy was still uncertain what was going on.
Booker refocused on his drink. “I’ve got some marital problems, so I changed my name. I don’t want the old witch to find me.”
“Oh,” Rummy replied, nodding. He gave Booker a slap on the back and a grin. “We all know how that goes. I thought mebbe you had forgotten your old pal.”
“Not at all. Let me buy you a beer. But you’ll have to promise me your silence on my true identity.”
“But that goes without saying,” Rummy declared, motioning toward Booker with crossed fingers. “I promise. I can’t have a good man such as yourself hounded and hunted down by a woman.”
Booker raised his hand as the serving girl approached. “Another beer for me and one for my friend.” He tossed her a coin.
“Sure thing.” She gave him a promising smile, then made her way back to the bar.
“And the next one is on me,” Rummy stated, putting his coins on the table. “I got paid today and am more than flush.”
Duran perked up at this. Maybe his run-in with the old sailor would serve his purposes after all. If he could get Rummy drunk without spending too much, there just might be a nice payday coming Booker’s way.
“What brought you to Duluth?” Rummy asked.
“TheMary Elise. I’m an able seaman on that schooner.”
“I know it well. I once served on her. Captain Wright still commanding her?”
Booker hid his disdain by tossing back the remainder of his drink. He wiped his mouth before answering. “He is.”
“Ah, a good man. A fair man. I hated leaving him, but I don’t make much of a sailor. I’m better working with the trees. I signed on with a logging company up north. Good group of men. Everyone knows their duties. It won’t be long before I rejoin them. We work mostly in the winter because of the boggy ground, don’t you know.”
“No, I can’t say that I did.”
“Well, I got me a job at the sawmill right now. So I’ve always got something to be workin’ at. Keeps me fed and in plenty of drink.”
The waitress returned with their beers. “Let me know if you’ll be needin’ something else,” she said, looking at Booker.
“I’m sure I’ll be calling on you,” he said.
“TheMary Elisewas brand-new the year I went to work on her,” Rummy continued. “We had a crew of only six, since she was in pristine order. Captain Wright was a good teacher, but I am a poor student. You’ll have to be tellin’ him hello from me. Maybe I’ll just make my way over and tell him myself. That would be a grand thing, now, wouldn’t it?”
“I don’t think it would be wise. The old man’s wife passed away, and he’s not in good spirits.”
“Now, that is a loss. Mrs. Wright was a kindly woman. Good cook too.”
“Her daughter Elise takes care of those duties now.” Duran wasn’t sure why he mentioned that. Rummy Carlson presented a problem. He was a liability Booker couldn’t afford. If he got it in his head to visit the captain and gave up Booker’s real name, there would be trouble with the law before Duran could get away.
“Let’s have another one,” Rummy said after emptying his mug. He pushed his coins toward the edge of the table. “You’re fallin’ behind, Bob.” He lowered his voice and chuckled. “I mean Booker.”
Duran shook his head. “I can take care of my own. You probably don’t have the funds.”
“I have plenty. Been helping out at the lumber mill.” He lowered his voice and glanced around. “Got paid today.”
Booker decided it would be all too easy to take care of his problem. “All right, then, let’s get to it.” He slammed down the contents of his mug and placed it empty beside Rummy’s. “This round is on you!”
“Good night, Nick,” Elise said on the stoop outside the open cottage door. “I’m glad you could join us for supper. Thanks too for the flowers.” Her heart seemed to race, and she took deep breaths, trying to calm it.
“It was my pleasure.” He took her hand and placed a light kiss on her knuckles. He held her hand just a few seconds longer than necessary and rubbed the back of it with his thumb. “I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”
