“Cara?”
“Rest assured I won’t do anything foolish, darling. Typically, I’m not the impulsive sort. I like plans, meticulous plans,” she informed him with a smile before taking a sip of her orange juice.
“For some reason that doesn’t make me feel better,” he bemoaned.
Cara laughed.
“Eat your breakfast, Witt. As soon as I’m finished, I’m going for a swim. I find the idea of nice cool water appealing this morning. Later I’d like to do something fun. After all, we have no idea how much time we have left.”
“Please don’t be so negative, darling,” he pleaded. “I, for one, intend to spend another 50 years loving you.”
“I’m trying, but as you said last night, we need to be realistic. Actually, I find I’m not all that hungry,” she said, scraping most of her omelet into the sink and flipping on the disposal. “I’m going out to swim. Join me if you’d like, otherwise I’ll see you later.”
He watched her open the sliding door and step out. At the edge of the pool, she dropped his shirt and dove naked into the water. God, she was lovely. With her cheeks blazing in the morning sun, she took his breath away. Deciding he wasn’t all that hungry either, he joined her. His instincts told him that he shouldn’t let her out of his sight, at least for a few days.
CHAPTER 5
1880
Matthew delivered the box lunches to the back door of The Duchess and handed them to Annalise. Then he made his way into the saloon. For a while he stood at the bar and nursed a beer, one booted foot resting on the rail.
Morgan was behind the bar, but keeping his eyes trained on his bride in her pretty saloon girl dress that he’d forbidden her to wear. Matt smiled. He figured that while Morg hadn’t made her change, her little butt would pay for her defiance later.
Mead sat at a table playing poker but sent near constant glances toward his woman, Marilee Muldoon. They should have been married by now, but apparently the mild-mannered southern belle was not quite as compliant as she appeared. Apparently, all the girls were insanely loyal to Callie Mae, and none would leave her until she’d made other arrangements. It made sense if he thought about it.
Here they were just young, beautiful women making a living. They waited on customers, served drinks and sandwiches, and occasionally danced with a lonely cowpoke. Fancy could sing a tune that had a man clapping his hands and stomping his feet, or have them crying in their beer if she so chose.
Jane was pretty as a picture, and despite her age seemed much younger. Who knew what would have happened to them if Callie Mae had not contacted the orphanage? They were all to be turned out at the ripe old age of 18. For all intents and purposes, Callie rescued them, and not one of them would turn on her. Yes, they worked in a saloon, but their duties ended at the staircase. Patrons were not allowed upstairs, and most were afraid of the gun Callie Mae kept on her person at all times. Each of the girls used the excuse that they had to stay until they paid Callie Mae back the money she’d invested to get them west. Matthew had a strong suspicion that debt had been satisfied long ago.
Matt signaled Morgan for a refill and when he brought it, he stopped him with his words.
“I want to know what’s going on, Morg, and I don’t want any cock and bull story about Mead going to Maryland.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Morgan insisted with a snort.
“You’re lying. I know it and so do you. You and Mead got something you’re hiding, and I’m not going to let it go. Do you think I don’t see the whispering? Do you think I don’t know you go out to that grove several times a week? I’m not stupid, brother, and I don’t like being left in the dark,” he stated calmly, even though his temper was rising.
“You’re imagining things,” Morgan said sternly, his eyes darting to Mead.
“The hell I am, and the two of you are going to tell me the truth. I’m not a kid. I’m a grown man and I have a right to know what’s going on in my family.”
“Now Matt…”
“Shut up and listen. You ain’t been the same since you came back, brother,” he drawled out. “Sometimes I wonder who the hell you really are. Oh, you look the same, but you have some mighty strange ideas and habits that you didn’t have before you went away.”
“Matthew…”
“I said shut up,” he growled low in his throat. “Now Mead is acting peculiar, too. He’s gone for a while and comes back like a brand new man, which is another strange occurrence considering Doc Brubaker couldn’t do much for him, and he’s a pretty smart fellow,” he continued smoothly now that he had his brother’s undivided attention.
Suddenly, Mead was at his side.
“What’s going on here?” he asked coolly. “You two having some sort of disagreement?”
“You might say that,” Matthew replied, tipping his hat back a bit on his head. “I was just telling our brother here that I’ve got some pretty important questions about what you two have been up to.”
“Well now, little brother, some things just ain’t none of your business,” Mead whispered quietly.
“I reckon that’s true, but this ain’t one of those times. Look, I’m the youngest, that’s true, but we’re a family and I don’t cotton to all these secrets. I guess if you don’t want to tell me, there’s not much I can do about it right now. But, you should know I’m not gonna let this go. One way or another, I intend to find out the truth, even if that means going all the way to Maryland. I’m wondering if you’re story will check out,” he said softly, “and I’m pretty convinced it won’t.”
