“I would, and if that doesn’t work, I will rethink my marriage proposal.”
“Mead, no,” she cried, bursting into tears.
“Hush,” he sighed, releasing her chin and gathering her close. “I want my sweet Lillian back, not a shrew who can’t say a charitable word to anyone.” Taking her hankie from her hands, he dried her tears. “Now let’s sit down and finish our supper before it’s too cold to eat. As long as you take what I’ve said to heart, we shouldn’t have any more problems.”
“Yes, Mead,” Lilly sniffed as she let him escort her to her seat. Picking up her knife, she began to cut her meat into bite-sized pieces. “So, you didn’t tell me why Callie Mae has a fire behind her place,” she said, trying to calm the fearful beating of her heart.
“Oh, that,” he laughed. “It seems our Callie Mae has come up with another idea to supplement her income. She ordered two copper tubs and turned one of the store rooms into a bathing room. Annalise and Jane have been heating big pots of water out back all day.”
Lilly’s fork clattered to her plate. “Are you telling me that Callie Mae and the girls are letting naked men into their establishment?”
“Well, they aren’t naked when they get there,” Mead grinned, “but yes, I suppose they are naked when they are bathing. I’m sure it’s all perfectly innocent. The storeroom has an outside door, so the men can go in and out as they please. Apparently, it beats bathing down at the livery.”
“Oh, my heavens,” Lilly cried as she ran to the window. She watched as Ty Wainwright raced down the street, jumped off his horse and threw the reins over the rail. Spinning around, Lilly ran to the door snatching up her shawl on the way and flew down the stairs.
“Lilly! Where are you going?” Mead yelled after her.
“Ty, Ty, Mr. Wainwright,” Lilly called across the street, waving frantically before weaving her way around wagons, stray dogs, and skittish horses. “I need to speak with you.”
Ty looked up at the cloud of smoke still rising from behind The Duchess, but the gentleman in him would not let him ignore Lilly’s pleas.
“What is it, Miss Piersal? You shouldn’t be out here alone. Where’s Mead?” he asked impatiently.
Lilly coughed delicately into her hankie, the rising dust threatening to choke her. “He’s over at my place,” she replied, pointing toward her shop. “I saw you ride up and I had to speak with you. It’s very important.”
“All right, what can I do for you?” he inquired politely as he led her from the street. “I’m kind of in a hurry to see what all that smoke out back is about.”
“That’s just what I wanted to speak with you about, Mr. Wainwright. I think it’s important that you get Miss Martin out of here at once,” she coughed. “The Duchess is no place for her, no not the proper place at all, if you still intend to marry her, that is.”
“Miss Piersal, I completely agree with you and I intend to marry Annalise as soon as she finishes paying her debt to Miss Walker. Annalise refuses to leave until then and despite my misgivings, I can’t help but admire her fortitude.”
“That’s all well and good, Mr. Wainwright, but I think what I have to tell you may change your opinion. You see…”
“Lilly! Have you taken leave of your senses?” Mead demanded, slightly out of breath as he took a firm hold of his fiancée’s arm. “What made you run off like that? Hello, Ty,” he continued, nodding.
“Mead,” Ty acknowledged. “Miss Piersal was just about to tell me something very important. I think that’s why she darted out into the street like that, although I must say I think it was foolhardy to do so at this time of night.”
“Oh, she was, was she?” Mead asked, tightening his grip. “Yes, my fiancée has been extremely foolish tonight, especially after the discussion we just had. Isn’t that right, Lilly?”
“Ty has a right to know,” Lilly insisted, trying to tug free of Mead’s hand.
“Know what?” Ty asked, planting his hands on his hips. He didn’t have time for this young woman’s nonsense.
“Know that Callie Mae has turned part of this saloon into a men’s bath house,” Lilly stated defiantly. “There are naked men in the back of this building right now!”
“This building?” Ty asked, shaking his head in disbelief. “You must be mistaken.”
“I’m not. That’s where all the smoke is coming from. Your fiancée and another of Callie Mae’s girls are out there right now, tending that fire and lord knows what else.”
Ty straightened to his full height, a tick appearing in his jaw. “Thank you for telling me, Miss Piersal. I’ll deal with this matter immediately,” he said before his determined strides took him around the side of the saloon.
Lilly smugly nodded her approval.
“I hope you’re proud of yourself,” Mead growled as he checked the street and hurried Lilly across.
“I am. He has a right to know.”
“You seem to have a penchant for stirring up trouble lately,” Mead drawled as she struggled to keep up with him.
