Deborah Camp (2 page)

“Sheriff Stu, in many of the neighboring states, Prohibition is the law. Why, in Kansas—”

“This isn’t Kansas,” he interrupted with an indulgent smile. “And those Prohibition laws aren’t keeping saloons out of towns, or so I hear. Miss Rose, you should try to make Mrs. Nation understand that she can’t break the law and not pay for it. Nobody’s above the law, ma’am. Not even Carry Nation.” He dipped his head to catch her gaze. “Will you think about the Spring Cotillion?”

“You’d better ask someone else, Sheriff. My work with Mrs. Nation takes up all my time.”

“That’s a powerful shame, Miss Rose. You’re so young and pretty. Why, you’d be the belle of any ball.”

Flustered and unable to think of a suitable rejoinder, she left the office and motioned for Jebidiah to get into the buggy. Regina hitched her gray skirts to her ankles and climbed up to the padded seat. Jebidiah’s eyes were huge in his dark face. Tear tracks glistened on his sunken cheeks.

“Didya bust her outta jail, Miz Rose?”

“No, we’ll have to come fetch her tomorrow. The sheriff—” Regina stopped short, all of a sudden
baffled by the sheriff’s advances. Since arriving in Eureka Springs more than a year ago, she hadn’t encouraged any flirtations and was more than surprised by the sheriff’s interest in her. It seemed like ages since a man had looked at her in that way….

“Laws, laws!” Jebidiah’s eyes widened even more. “I can’t ‘magine Miz Nation sleepin’ in that awful place. She must be walkin’ the floor.”

“Give me the reins.” Regina plucked them from his soft, wrinkled hands and turned Gardenia homeward.

“I sure hate leavin’ her back there.” Jebidiah dabbed at his seeping eyes.

“So do I, but I can’t do anything about it tonight. Come morning I’ll collect Mr. Potter and we’ll bring Mrs. Nation home. You’ll see. Oh, Jebidiah, do stop crying.” She patted his arm, trying to comfort him.

“I’m s-sorry.” He sniffed and blew his nose into a rag. “I’m afraid she’ll n-never come home. Then what will happen to us, Miz Rose? We’ll be throwed out into the streets.”

“Don’t be foolish,” she scolded, but an image of just that flashed through her mind and made her throat tighten.

“You think Mr. Potter will spring her from that cell?”

She cleared her throat. “Yes,” she said with a confidence she didn’t feel. If the talk around town about Theodore Dane were true, he’d grind Morton Potter into sawdust and Carry Nation would have to spend more than a night in jail.

“Will Mr. Potter need money to bust Miz Nation out?”

“I don’t know…. Perhaps we won’t even have to worry about that. I’m going around to Mr. Theodore Dane’s office bright and early and speak to
him about dropping the charges against Mrs. Nation. I’m sure I can appeal to his good sense and his gentleman’s honor.”

Jebidiah made a keening sound that sent a chill down Regina’s spine.

“What?” she asked, leaning closer to see his face as the buggy passed by a street lamp. “You know something I don’t?”

“From what I hear, that Mr. Dane ain’t got much gentleman in him. He winked at Miz Bitsy right on Spring Street last week.”

“He did
what
?” Regina felt her mouth drop open. “He winked at Bitsy Frederick? Does he know she’s a married woman?”

“I don’t know, Miz Rose. All’s I know is that Miz Bitsy told me that he winked at her and then turned right around as she passed by him to get a good, long look at her backside.”

“Well, I never!” Regina’s cheeks heated at the thought of such brazen conduct.

“I don’t think a lady like you should go callin’ on such a man, Miz Rose. It ain’t safe.”

“I’ll take you with me.” She ignored Jebidiah’s wince. “He won’t try anything with you there.”

“Why do we have to go see him?” Jebidiah wrung his hands. “Let Mr. Potter talk to him.”

“I’m not afraid of Theodore Dane.”

“Maybe you should be.”

She managed a laugh of bravado. “I assure you, Jebidiah, I can handle Theodore Dane. If he dares wink at me or take any other liberties, I’ll have
him
thrown in jail.”

Jebidiah rolled his eyes in her direction. “Yes’m. Whatever you say, Miz Rose. Laws, laws, this sure is a misery.”

Emerald O’Brady’s bright orange hair almost blinded Regina when she stepped into the law offices
of Carmichael and Dane. Jebidiah, behind Regina, sucked in a noisy breath.

“Land sakes, wouldya look who’s here,” Jebidiah whispered, staring at the Full Bucket barmaid as if she were a circus oddity in a sideshow.

“Hey there, girlie,” Emerald said in a brassy voice. “Your boss lady sure made a spectacle of herself last night, didn’t she?” She gave a short, biting laugh. “Got herself pitched into the Bar Hotel for her trouble!”

Regina edged past the woman, unsure of what to say, although Emerald’s callous remarks made her blood boil. A partition blocked her view and she could hear a rumble of voices behind it.

“Jebidiah, go back there and fetch Mr. Dane for me.”

“M-me?” Jebidiah whined. “Why for do I have to go back there, Miz Rose? You’re the one wants to speak to him.”

Regina sighed. “I swear, I can’t ask you to do anything anymore without you crying like a whipped child.”

“Theo’s busy with somebody else right now,” Emerald said. “He’ll be out here shortly and then you can talk to him.” She glanced at the chairs beside her. “Sit down a spell, honey.”

Regina ignored the suggestion. “Maybe we’ll come back later.”

“That’s a good idea,” Jebidiah said. “Let’s get.”

“That Mrs. Nation sure had herself a fit last night,” Emerald said. “Made toothpicks out of Tom’s bar. He was right proud of that there bar, too. Had it hauled from Jefferson City three years ago. It had Jesse James’s signature carved in it.”

“That bar has ruined many a good man,” Regina said, jumping to Mrs. Nation’s defense.

At that moment Harriet Hampf bustled around the partition and almost ran into Regina. The two
stared at each other for a few moments before Regina recovered her own voice.

“I hope you’re not taking Mr. Wilson’s side against Mrs. Nation.”

Harriet glanced away uncomfortably. “All I can tell you is that ladies don’t go about waving hatchets and destroying property. That woman is touched in the head and I do believe she needs to be—”

“Thanks for coming in so early to give us your eyewitness account, Mrs. Hampf. Emerald, darlin’, you’re next.”

Regina’s heart slammed into the roof of her mouth as Theodore Dane stepped into view, followed closely by his younger cousin. Theodore was a couple of inches taller and more handsome than Eric Carmichael. In fact, Theodore Dane was devilishly handsome. Regina’s gaze moved over him in rapt appreciation. Oh, Lord, just the sight of him made her shake like a willow in the wind. No wonder all the woman in town talked incessantly about him.

His deeply tanned skin contrasted with his straight, gingery-colored hair and royal blue eyes. He wore wheat-colored trousers, and he’d rolled the sleeves of his dark green shirt up to his elbows. His suspenders and necktie were a rich golden color. Regina found the shape of his mouth most alluring, with its Cupid’s bow upper lip and full lower one. When he grinned, dimples creased his lean cheeks. He exuded male arrogance as some men did good breeding. He was so dangerously masculine he made her toes curl.

Eric, on the other hand, was a congenial presence, with an open, friendly face and kind, hazel eyes. His curly brown hair tumbled onto his forehead and brushed the tips of his small jug ears.

“Good day, gentlemen,” Harriet Hampf said,
smiling warmly at the attorneys. Her smile chilled as she faced Regina. “Miss Rose, excuse me …” She edged past Regina and out the door.

“What’s this, another lady eyewitness?” Theodore asked, switching his attention to Regina. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. I’m Theodore Dane and this is my law partner, Eric Carmichael.”

“She’s in cahoots with Carry Nation,” Emerald said. “Her name’s Regina Rose and this here is her servant Jebidiah.”

“He’s
not
my servant,” Regina protested. “Jebidiah is on Mrs. Nation’s payroll. He helps us at the Haven—”

“The what?” Theodore interrupted.

“The Haven,” Regina repeated. “It’s Mrs. Nation’s home, which she has opened to the wives and children of drunkards. It’s one of the many good deeds Mrs. Nation performs on a daily basis.”

“Oh, she’s a saint, she is,” Emerald said with a sneer. “Only saints stay in our town jail.” She stepped closer to Theodore and elbowed him. “You gonna talk to me now or not? It’s a sacrifice to haul myself out of bed before noon for
any
man. I don’t even do it for the ones who pay!”

Regina nearly choked on her tongue. She took an involuntary step away from the barmaid and bumped into Eric Carmichael. He placed a hand at her elbow to steady her.

“Let’s get to work, then. I’m glad for your punctuality.” Theodore Dane’s sparkling eyes moved to take in Regina and Jebidiah. “You have business with us, Miss Rose?”

“I must speak to you, Mr. Dane. It’s terribly important.”

He grinned. “You sound desperate.”

“You like ’em desperate, doncha, you devil?”
Emerald joshed, running a finger under one of his suspenders.

“They’re my favorite, next to willing and ready,” Theo joked back, while his cousin had the good grace to blush.

Regina brought her chin up. “Sir, Miss O’Brady might be accustomed to being talked to as if she’s the town tramp, but I’m not.” She heard her voice tremble and cursed her inability to sound formidable. She swallowed hard and tried to place more steel into her tone. “I came here to discuss a matter of business with you, but if I’m to be treated so shabbily, I’ll—”

“Please, Miss Rose,” Eric said, stepping around to confront her. “Theo will behave himself.” He looked at his cousin. “Theo, I could take Miss O’Brady’s statement if you’d like to see Miss Rose now.”

“Hey, I was here first and I had an appointment,” Emerald complained.

Theodore bussed her roughed cheek. “Don’t get your feathers ruffled, Em. Let Eric take your statement and then I’ll walk you back home.”

Emerald smiled. “You would?”

“Why sure. It’ll be my pleasure.”

“I can’t remember the last time a man walked beside me in daylight.”

His smile grew and the creases in his lean cheeks deepened. “Maybe we’ll even stop at Guffy’s Café for a slice of apple pie.”

Emerald O’Brady’s eyes misted. “You got yourself a deal. Come on, Eric, hon, let’s get this over with.”

Watching the interchange, Regina couldn’t help but be touched by Theodore Dane’s gesture. Mrs. Nation would say that he cared nothing for his reputation, but Regina thought it was brave of him to offer to escort a soiled dove in broad daylight.
She disapproved of what Emerald O’Brady did for a living, but she disapproved of hypocrites even more. If a man kept company with a woman by night, then he should do the same by day.

“You need me, Miz Rose? I was thinking I’d just wait outside …”

Regina slanted Jebidiah a knowing glance and smiled. “Go on, little chicken.”

“Yes’m. I’ll be right out here.” He hurried out, leaving her alone with Theodore Dane, who wore a wolfish grin.

“Alone, at last,” he noted in a growly voice.

Regina refused to let him see how upsetting she found him.

“I’ve seen you around town. You’re the single lady who lives next door to Mrs. Nation.”

“That’s correct, Mr. Dane. I’m appealing to your sense of honor.” She swallowed hard, wondering if she had come to a desert seeking a glass of water. “I want you to advise Mr. Wilson to drop the charges against Mrs. Nation. Her work is vital and she can’t conduct it from jail.”

“She should have thought of that before she damaged Tom’s saloon. Have you seen that wreck-age?”

“Do you think I’d step one foot inside a saloon, sir?” She tensed while he surveyed her from head to foot.

“No, I guess not.” He motioned for her to precede him. “Won’t you come into my office, Miss Rose? We shouldn’t be discussing such weighty matters out here in the foyer.”

She hesitated a moment before striding forward, feeling like a fly enticed by a spider. Two doors flanked a corridor. Theodore Dane opened the one on the right, revealing a large space filled with heavy, dark office furniture. He eschewed the massive desk and led Regina to two leather wing
chairs set in front of a circular window. Regina sat in one. Sunlight streamed through the window to warm her.

“Would you like some tea or coffee?”

“No, thank you.” She glanced up to watch him flick down his shirtsleeves and button the cuffs. Everything he did held a measure of fascination for her. She forced her thoughts into order. “About the charges, Mr. Dane. If you will speak to Mr. Wilson I’d be ever so grateful.”

He sat opposite her and delivered another of his wide, lazy grins that made his eyes sparkle. “Well, that’s mighty tempting, Miss Rose, but I’m being paid for my good advice, and my advice to Tom was to press charges. I’m sticking to that. Mrs. Nation did a fair amount of damage and she should be held accountable.” He tipped his head to one side for a long study of her that made her pulse thrum. “Your eyes … they’re gray. Almost silver. They’re quite beautiful.”

Taken by surprise, Regina couldn’t think of a blessed thing to say. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

“You look like a capable young woman,” he continued smoothly. “I’m sure you can run Mrs. Nation’s affairs until this thing is settled in court.”

“You don’t understand. This can’t go to court.”

“And why not?”

“I was hoping to avoid that, sir,” Regina hedged, hating to admit that they were a step away from poverty.

“Mrs. Nation destroyed Tom’s bar. You don’t think she should pay for that?”

“Think of the lives Tom’s bar has destroyed. Who will repair those broken promises, broken homes, broken spirits? Mrs. Nation’s work is vitally important, Mr. Dane. One day without her guidance is a blow to those who depend on her.”

“Do you depend on her? And please call me Theo. I’ll call you Ginny.”

Ginny
. Regina’s mother’s slurred speech whirled through her mind.
I love my gin and my Ginny
.