“No, I’m here,” a voice called breathlessly. “Gracious,” she sighed setting her basket on a table. “The mercantile was busy today.” Reaching up, she untied the ribbons beneath her chin and removed her bonnet. “I swear I thought Mr. Murphy would never get around to taking my order.”
Cara remained quiet and stared at the woman in surprise. She was nothing as she’d expected. When she learned Morgan had married the saloon owner, she’d pictured a woman a little rough around the edges and a bit slutty, despite how Mead had extolled her virtues. At one time her ex-husband had been an intensely sexual male, and she’d assumed he’d met his match. Instead, his new bride was a petite and ladylike girl wearing a blue calico dress and a straw bonnet. Around her shoulders was a cream-colored shawl that matched the tiny flowers scattered over her dress.
“Is Annalise here?” she asked. “I have the things she needed.”
“I’ll take them to her,” Marilee offered picking up the basket. “She’s working in the kitchen.”
“Thank you, and ask her if there is any coffee left.”
“Fancy is already getting us a cup,” Matt said.
“Good, ask her to bring me one as well. I’m tuckered right out.”
“Didn’t Doc tell you to rest?” he asked, his tone a bit accusatory.
“I have been, but he can’t expect me to lie abed all day. I have a business to run,” she replied taking a seat at the table along with them. “Hello there, I’m Callie Mae Whittaker,” she said with a friendly smile as she held out her hand to Cara. “And you are…?
“Caroline Whitmeyer,” Cara replied taking her hand and giving it a gentle shake.
“It’s nice to make your acquaintance. What brings you to The Duchess?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Matt began. “Thanks Fancy,” he said as she placed three cups of coffee along with cream and sugar on the table.
“Yes, thank you,” Callie echoed. “Everything been going smoothly around here?”
“Yes, Hank was by this morning,” Fancy stated with a frown. “He’s concerned about the judge coming through next week. Lilly’s been all over town spreading lies about what happened that night. He’s worried she’ll get off with a slap on the wrist and a warning to be better behaved. I swear if she gets off I’ll buy the tar and feathers!”
“Now don’t go getting all worked up, Fancy. We have to let justice take its course,” Matt scolded.
“Bullshit!” Fancy snapped back. “That’s what the marshal said, but she nearly killed Marilee, and lord knows what else she’s capable of. I’m not going to let her get away with it no matter what that judge says.”
“Why don’t you and Marilee take a nice long walk,” Callie Mae suggested. “It’s a beautiful day and we don’t know how many more we’ll have. Maybe you could stop at Laurie’s and let her know I heard there’s a drive coming in later this week. This place will be overrun with cowpokes come Thursday.”
“All right,” Fancy said briskly. “I’ll go, but it won’t matter how much walking I do, I’ll still feel the same way. That black-haired witch is gonna get her comeuppance one way or another. Come on, Marilee. Let’s go down to the mercantile and see if they have any new perfume from France. My treat. The bottle I have is nearly gone.”
“Ooh, Fancy parting with money,” Marilee teased. “I’ll have to write that in my diary later.”
“Very funny,” Fancy laughed as she looped her arm through Marilee’s. “You know I’m saving to go west, but I’ll smell sweet for the journey.”
“Devine, the word is divine Fancy, and you always do.”
Once they sailed out the doors, Callie Mae settled back in her chair and took a sip of her coffee, sighing in enjoyment.
“Now then, what did you want to speak to me about, Matt?”
“It’s about Mrs. Whitmeyer here,” Matt began nodding at Cara. “I ran into her on the road and she’s in a bit of trouble.”
“Oh? What kind of trouble?”
“It seems the man she’s married to is a little hard on her. I don’t know the whole story, of course, and I didn’t want to pry, but she finds herself between a rock and a hard place. When she left home, she was in a bit of a hurry, and she forgot her reticule. She has no money and no place to light for a few days. I was wondering if you could help her out, as sort of a favor to me?”
“I don’t see why not,” Callie replied thoughtfully. “We have the rooms, but what are your plans for the future, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I don’t really have any, at least not yet. My main concern was getting away from my husband before he could stop me.”
“I see. Would you be interested in working here? I know Fancy is counting down the days until she can head to San Francisco, and Marilee will be marrying Mead soon. Annalise is barely holding off her wedding to Ty Wainwright, so it will leave me shorthanded.”
“What would the job entail?” Cara asked.
