“My girls wear pretty dresses, serve drinks, and occasionally dance with a patron or two if they want to. There’s no funny business going on here,” she stated clearly. “No men are allowed upstairs, and we don’t put up with any grabbing or inappropriate actions toward my girls.”
Cara nodded.
“Despite what you might hear around town, The Duchess is a respectable place, and I mean to keep it that way.”
“I understand. The only thing is I don’t know how long I’ll be staying. I’d hate to take the position away from another woman who intends to keep it for a while.”
“No worry about that,” Callie answered with an indelicate snort. “I had to send all the way to St. Louis for these girls, and they’ve all become dear to my heart. I’ll be sorry to see them leave The Duchess, but they’ll stay around town, all except for Fancy. She’s meant for bigger things.”
“It sounds as though accepting your kind offer will work out for both of us, at least in the short term, but I have no money to buy a meal, much less even a suitable dress,” Cara admitted, still embarrassed at her own negligence.
“I’m not worried. I have some dresses and I’m sure we can find one that will work for you. As far as your meals, just tell Mrs. Dixon over at the Blue Bonnet to put them on my tab.”
“Wonderful,” Cara exclaimed. “Thank you.”
“Oh, and there’s one more thing I should tell you. My husband, Morgan, can be a bit of a bear. He’s been after me to sell this place since the moment I met him, and he’s not fond of being thwarted. Try to stay out of his way if you can. When he finds out I’ve taken on another saloon girl, he’ll have an apoplexy fit.”
“Should I be worried?” she asked nervously.
“No, I’m the one who should be,” Callie Mae replied with a laugh. “Come on, I’ll show you your room. Then you can go on over to the diner and have a bite to eat. I’m truly sorry for your troubles, Caroline. May I call you that?”
“Of course, you’re the boss.” She followed Callie Mae upstairs, pleased to have a soft, clean bed for the night. Matt brought her valises up and turned to leave.
“Thank you, Mr. Whittaker.”
“Matt,” he replied, “and it was my pleasure. I was happy to help.”
“Will I see you again?”
“I’m around most nights for a bit. Hey, are you hungry? I’m heading over to the diner to grab a bite. Would you like to join me?”
“I’d love too. Just give me a few minutes to freshen up and I’ll be down.”
Smiling, she closed the door behind him and leaned against it. Things were turning out better than she’d planned. In a short time, she would meet the woman who might be Micah’s ancestor. Hopefully she would be friendly and forthcoming with information regarding her family.
Callie Mae was sweet, and Cara was genuinely happy for her and Morgan, however she doubted he would be enthusiastic about her being there. Mead would likely feel the same way, but that was just too damn bad. She’d given them all the leeway she could afford to straighten out the mess. Now they needed to get out of her way so she could clean it up.
CHAPTER 15
The place was beginning to fill up when Matt took Cara’s elbow and escorted her across the road and through the door. The diner was what Cara would describe as quaint. Each table had gingham tablecloths and a tiny vase of wildflowers. The windows sported matching gingham curtains, andThe Blue Bonnet Caféhad been skillfully painted on the glass. A straw bonnet adorned with blue flowers hung on the plate-glass window. Seeing a vacant table, he wove their way through the other diners, nodding at people he knew.
Cara looked around for a menu before spotting a chalkboard on the wall with the day’s specials.
“Looks like it’s a chicken and biscuit day,” she remarked.
“Yes, one of my favorites,” Matt answered with a grin. “Not that I’ve ever had anything here that wasn’t tasty, but Laurie’s biscuits are light as a feather. Everyone says so.”
“I see.”
“Will that suit you? Miss Laurie will make about anything you ask her too, but you won’t get it as fast.”
“No, the special will be fine.”
Cara watched as the pretty blonde woman darted around the dining room like a beautiful hummingbird. She seemed to be everywhere at once, everywhere except at their table, taking their order. Each time she glanced their way she smiled in an apologetic manner before turning to another customer. Finally, when it appeared to Cara that everyone else in the diner had been waited on, she turned to Matt.
“Mr. Whittaker, Matt, is this woman a friend of yours?” she asked, already knowing the answer. “It almost seems as though she’s avoiding us.”
“Well, yes, I would say she was. I’d like her to be more, much more,” he admitted with a slight frown, “but she won’t have me.”
