“Oh, Callie Mae, that would be wonderful, but only if you can spare her,” Laurie said gratefully.
“I should be able to. Annalise spends most of her time in the kitchen anyway and now that I’ve got the sandwiches and the pies, it’s just a matter of serving them. The other girls can do that. Are you sure you’re all right here on your own for now?”
“I’m fine. You be careful getting back across the street. Gracious, you can hardly see over that basket. I guess I should’ve packed them into smaller ones.”
“No, I’ll be all right, as long as I don’t get run down,” Callie Mae laughed. “It’s like a twister has blown into town.”
Callie Mae picked her way carefully across the street, dodging horses, piles of manure, and ignoring the catcalls. Entering The Duchess, she made straight for the kitchen, weaving her way past tables full of cowhands. She had no idea how many heads turned, or how many hungry eyes followed her movements.
In the kitchen, Annalise helped her with the basket and poured her a glass of iced tea.
“Thank you, I swear I have a pound of dirt in my throat,” she said before gulping down half her tea. “I told Miss Laurie I would send you back for the pies but she’s so awfully busy over there I thought maybe you could go over and give her a hand. She has someone minding the children but the place is near to bursting with hungry men.”
“Oh, Callie Mae, I don’t know how much use I’d be to her. You know how uncomfortable I get around men, how nervous I get. Maybe I’d just be in the way,” Annalise said sadly.
“Nonsense, I’m sure you’ll be a great help to her. Even if you stay in the kitchen cooking and dishing up meals and she serves them, it’ll be much better than her trying to do everything on her own. Of course, if you don’t want to, I can see if one of the other girls will, but that might leave us shorthanded here. I’d hate for you to have to serve drinks.”
“No, of course you’re right. Miss Laurie’s been very kind to us and if she needs my help I’ll be glad to give it. I’ll bring the pies back over as soon as I can,” Annalise promised. “When things quiet down over there and Miss Laurie’s able to manage on her own, I’ll return.”
“You’re a dear,” Callie Mae said smiling. “Best go out the back door so you don’t have to walk through that crowd,” she advised.
Annalise took her dark brown cloak from a peg by the door and slipped it on, pulling the hood over her hair. Nervously, she walked out the door and hurried around the building. Reaching the boardwalk, she set her sights on the Blue Bonnet, determined not to make eye contact with any strangers if she could help it. Stepping into the street, she quickly looked both ways before starting across. The heavy hood limited her peripheral vision more than she realized and she hadn’t gone more than three steps before a strong arm wrapped around her waist and yanked her back.
“Hey now, hadn’t you better watch where you’re going?” A deep voice rumbled in her ear. “A little thing like you is likely to get run down, especially in that dark cloak.”
“What you got there, Ty?” the young cowboy asked, laughing as he climbed off the horse that had nearly trampled her and tied it to the hitching post. “I hope she didn’t come out of that there saloon. I’m looking for something a might more colorful than the one you caught.”
“You best watch your mouth, Joe,” the man holding her warned. “First you nearly run her down and then you insult her to boot. Of course she didn’t come out of the saloon. Can’t you tell a lady when you see one?”
“I’m sorry if I offended you, ma’am,” Joe said taking off his hat. “I truly never saw you in this light.”
“It’s all right,” Annalise said softly. “I guess I didn’t see you either.”
“Well, no harm done,” Joe said putting his hat back on and tipping it. “Good evening, ma’am.”
Annalise watched the cowboy enter The Duchess through the swinging doors. It wasn’t until that moment that she realized her rescuer’s arm was still around her waist. Tapping his hand, she gave a shiver as he reluctantly released her and turned to face him.
“Thank you,” she said looking up at the tall, clean-shaven man.
“You’re welcome, Miss…”
“Martin, Annalise Martin.”
“My name is Tyler Wainwright, but mostly I go by Ty. If you don’t mind me asking, where are you going in such a hurry and what are you doing out on the streets unescorted?”
Annalise blushed, thankful for the dim light. While still polite, the man’s voice had a somewhat scolding tone. Not one to make a fuss, she was slightly surprised to feel a bristle of indignation. Granted, he’d saved her from a nasty accident, so she swallowed her sharp retort and answered truthfully. “I was on my way to the Blue Bonnet Café.”
“Then allow me to escort you, and in the future I suggest you avoid crossing the street in front of the saloon,” Ty said, offering his arm.
Annalise accepted, resting her hand lightly on his forearm. She said no more until they had managed to navigate the congested street. Once on the boardwalk, they turned toward the café and walked the short distance. In the light spilling from the windows, she stopped and looked up into his eyes.
“Thank you, Mr. Wainwright, and I appreciate your concern; however, it’s unlikely I’ll be able to avoid the traffic in front of The Duchess. You see, I live there.”
“You what?”
“Yes, I live there and I also work for the owner, Miss Callie Mae Walker,” she said calmly enjoying the horrified look on his face. All of her life she’d stayed in the background, a quiet shadowy figure, an observer in the world around her. For the first time, she had a man’s complete and undivided attention, and an attractive man at that. She ignored the wild fluttering of her heart, delighted by the unexpectedness of the entire situation.
Ty took a step back, his eyes traveling from the toe of her shoe to the top of her head. The demure young woman before him could not possibly be a saloon girl. Taking off his hat, he scratched his head before slapping it back on.
