Deborah Camp (28 page)

She went up the back kitchen stairs to avoid any of the lingering guests. Once in her room, she unpinned her hair and brushed it out, then twisted it into a rope and pinned it loosely against the back of her head. She put on a blue bonnet to match her dress and pulled on pale blue gloves—her best ones—then indulged in a touch of rose water at her wrists and neck.

He’d better be home, she thought, a little crossly. Why was he being so obstinate? Couldn’t he allow her the opportunity to apologize for jumping to conclusions about him? Did he have to make it so difficult? Well, she’d give him his due. She owed it to him. If he wanted her to come to him, face him in his home, then she’d do it. Besides, it would ease her conscience, and she sorely needed that. Hating to be misjudged herself, she deplored having misjudged someone else.

Downstairs again, she slipped out the side door and went around the front to where Jebidiah waited in the buggy. She couldn’t see if Lu and Eric were still on the front porch, but she waved just in case before she climbed onto the seat next to Jebidiah.

“Harding Springs, you say?”

“Yes, Jebidiah.” She settled more comfortably and looked around. “It’s a beautiful night.”

“It sure is good to have them problems put behind us. Laws, it sure was a misery.”

“Yes, well, we can relax—for the time being.”

“What you mean by that?” he asked, turning his
dark face toward her. “Is there a cloud on the horizon?”

She sighed and decided to share her concerns with the old man. After all, he’d known Mrs. Nation much longer than she had. “Jebidiah, I don’t think this … episode has encouraged Mrs. Nation to curb her activities.”

“You talking about her chopping up that place in Kansas?” He clucked his tongue in a chiding way. “I don’t ’prove of that, Miz Rose, but at least she didn’t get throwed in jail. Mebbe folks is deciding to let her be.”

“I don’t think so, Jebidiah. I read the circulars and pamphlets, and more articles are being written about her and by her. She’s becoming a strong force in the country. She’s becoming famous, and I think she likes it. I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t travel more, Jebidiah.”

“I hate to hear that. It ain’t good when she ain’t here.”

“I know it’s hard to keep things going without her. But maybe she’ll make more money. That would be nice.”

“And mebbe she’ll close up the house and go live somewhere else. She likes Kansas. She done told me that.”

“We won’t worry about things that haven’t happened yet.” She squeezed one of his gnarled hands. “I just wanted to let you know that there might be some changes, but you shouldn’t worry. Mrs. Nation will always provide for you, Jebidiah.” What she didn’t add was that Jebidiah was the only person Mrs. Nation would provide for if she did decide to leave Eureka Springs for Kansas. He’d been with her for so many years, Mrs. Nation thought of Jebidiah as family. Of course, that was as it should be, but the uncertainty gnawed at her. Watching the passing buildings
and houses, she realized that she’d come to think of Eureka Springs as her home. She had an investment in it, and she didn’t want to leave.

The water wagon had been through earlier, wetting the streets to keep the dust down, and the wagon wheels whispered over the surface. The gaslights shone along the curved arch above the entrance to Basin Park, and a silvery stream of water gurgled in the fountain there. Way up the mountain, lights blazed in the Crescent Hotel, and from a distance it looked to Regina as if the hotel floated above the treetops like a castle in the sky. She loved the Crescent. It was the most elegant hotel in town. A long, winding stairway connected Basin Street with the Crescent, but few people made the arduous trek, preferring a simple carriage ride. Styled in the tradition of a castle, the hotel sat at the crest of a thickly wooded hill. She guessed that most women in town had indulged in dreams about being treated like a princess in the hotel-castle.

“You know what, Jebidiah? This is a nice place to live. Look at the gaslights. Aren’t they pretty? Why, this town is full of wonderful, beautiful things. The Summer Auditorium, the Crescent Hotel, Basin Park, the train depot, and the wonderful tallyho wagons. Someday I’m going to hire one of those and give all my friends a ride in it. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

“And costly,” Jebidiah said, bringing her back down to earth. “Them sure don’t come cheap, Miz Rose. Only rich folks ride in them fancy wagons with their prancing white horses.”

“Yes, you’re right.” She sighed. “But it’s a lovely dream.”

“Them tallyho wagons wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for all these fancy people coming to soak in the springs and spa baths. They spends their
money like they got bushel baskets of it. I never seen the like. Mrs. Nation ought to stay here, seeing as how so many folks is comin’ every day on the trains.”

“I remember when I first arrived, I thought the town was strange, with all the houses and such perched on hillsides.” She laughed, remembering. “And that first winter! All the snow made it impossible to get around. You had to walk everywhere because it was just too dangerous to go by buggy or wagon. The horses couldn’t gain footing on the ice. Ah, but then spring came. Every season is beautiful here in the Ozark Mountains.”

“Me and you likes our roots,” Jebidiah said. “But Mrs. Nation ain’t like that. She likes to spread herself around.”

“Not me. I want a home. A real home with a family in it and love all around.” She sighed wistfully, since the likelihood of that seemed as remote as the Crescent Hotel sailing among the stars. “The women at Mrs. Nation’s are like a family to me—you, too, Jebidiah.”

“That’s mighty nice of you, Miz Rose, but you need to get yourself your own fam’ly. A pretty lady like you ought to get herself a good mister and start having babies to love.”

She turned away from him, feeling a blush paint her cheeks. “I’m not sure I’d make a good wife or a good mother. I do know that I make a good friend, and that’s enough for me.” She pointed to a side street. “This is where we turn.”

Gardenia pulled the buggy around the corner and stopped in front of the second house past the Waverly Hotel. The house was dark.

“I hope he hasn’t retired already.” Regina waited for Jebidiah to come around and help her alight from the buggy. The old man walked with her to the front door. Regina knocked and listened
to the silence within. “He’s not here.” Had he gone to the Full Bucket to celebrate his win in court with Tom Wilson and the gang? She looked around at the cane-seated chairs and porch swing.

“I’ll bring you back tomorrow, Miz Rose.” Jebidiah started down the front steps again. “Whatever you got to say to him will keep ’til then.”

“No, it won’t. I’ve done him a disservice and I mean to correct it.”

“He ain’t here and he might not be back tonight. He be a bachelor, you know.”

She blanched at that, then rejected it. He’d be home soon. Within the hour, no doubt. To prove her faith in him, she’d wait. Regina sat on the porch swing and gestured for Jebidiah to go on.

“I can’t leave you here. How will you get back?”

“Mr. Dane will see me home. Don’t worry, Jebidiah. You go on back. Thank you for bringing me. Go on now and quit looking so vexed.”

“I is vexed, for sure. Mrs. Nation won’t be happy about me leaving you here on this bachelor man’s front porch. It ain’t right.”

“I’ll be fine, Jebidiah, and I’ll be home in an hour or so.” She glared him down. He caved in and climbed into the buggy, muttering darkly to himself. She smiled. He was a dear to worry about her and all the ladies at Mrs. Nation’s home.

When she could no longer hear the thump of Gardenia’s hooves, Regina swung gently and enjoyed the warm breeze and quiet night. It would be worth the short wait, she told herself. She’d confess all and he’d be most pleased that she had finally acknowledged that he wasn’t such a bad seed, after all. Perhaps they could reach a comfortable understanding and forge a true friendship. No more cat-and-mouse games and being nervous around him. That would be nice.

It would be a fine time to explain to him that he must forget the girl singer at the Gold Star because she no longer existed. She would leave him with no illusions, and receive his solemn promise not to reveal her former occupation to anyone else. With all that behind them, they could just be friends. That’s what she wanted. Just to be his friend.

The memory of his kisses intruded and she squeezed her eyes shut and made herself think of other things—the trial, Eric’s growing fondness for Lu, Bitsy’s flirtations with the sheriff, and Joy’s obvious interest in the deputy, a man she’d known and admired years ago. They were all finding good men to enhance their lives. Good for them, she thought, rallying her spirits. Luckily, she didn’t need a man to make her life worthwhile. The crusade to shut down open saloons satisfied her, fulfilled her.

Did Theo kiss every woman with such hungry fervor? Did he adore his mother, or had they grown apart over the years? Bea had mentioned something about his life being hard of late. His father had died … been killed … but how? There was so much she didn’t know, so much she wanted to understand about him. She’d spent so much energy and effort keeping him at arm’s length, keeping her own runaway emotions in check, that she’d given no time to really getting to know him. All she knew was that he made her nervous and confused. She knew how she felt when she was with him, but what did
he
feel? What vein of gold governed him to good deeds and gracious gestures?

She remembered him accusing her of teaching Annie to be afraid of men. Alarmed, she sat up and looked around, searching for any movement, any sound of breathing. Jack was still in town, spying on them. Oh, why didn’t he just leave? She
had enough problems without worrying about being followed by her half brother. While Theo made her nervous, Jack frightened her. Her relationships with men did need some adjustment, she supposed. There weren’t many she felt at ease around, but then who could blame her for that? She could count on one hand the number who had been kind to her without trying to take something from her that she wasn’t willing to give.

Regina reclined on the swing again and closed her eyes. Theo would be home any minute now. She’d ask his advice about Jack and how she could get him to leave town. Theo was smart. He’d know what to do. After a few minutes, she grew drowsy and curled onto her side on the swing, ready to spring up at the slightest sound. Within another few minutes, she dropped her guard and fell asleep.

S
huffling footfalls awakened her. Regina sat up and rubbed her eyes. For a few moments she couldn’t remember where she was or why. The breeze had grown cooler and she shivered and gazed at the unfamiliar front porch. Someone sniffled nearby and Regina jumped up from the swing and whirled toward the front walk where a shadowy figure lurked.

“Who’s that?” a man’s voice commanded, and Regina slinked back into the darkness of the porch. He raked a hand under his nose and peered at the pool of darkness she inhabited. “I’ve got a gun, so you better speak up.”

Gun?
“It’s me! Regina Rose! Don’t sh-shoot me.” She stumbled forward into a moonbeam. Only then did she recognize him. “For goodness sake, it’s you. I’ve been waiting for you to come home, Theodore Dane. What are you doing brandishing a gun?”

“I don’t really have one.” He retreated a step or two. “You shouldn’t be here, Regina.”

“But I must speak with you. We must talk, Theo.”

“Not tonight. I don’t want you to see me like this. I’ll be more myself tomorrow. You come back then.” He looked up and down the street. “I wonder
if a hired buggy is out at this hour. You shouldn’t walk home. It’s close to midnight.”

“That late?” She observed his rounded shoulders and sagging head. Why was he being evasive? “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing. You should go, Regina.”

His dismissal stung. “I’ve waited hours for you, Theodore. It’s rude of you to send me off without even asking why I’ve come.”

“I know why you’re here.”

Her bonnet had slipped to one side and she tried to straighten it. “Why do you think I’m here, Mr. Smarty?”

“To thank me for waiving my fee. It’s so noted, and now you can go. I’ll call on you in a few days.”

The bonnet remained askew and she jerked it off in a fit of misdirected anger. “Why can’t you afford me a few minutes?”

“I’m tired.” He swayed and stumbled, but caught himself, regaining his balance. “As you can see.” His words came out slurred.

“Tired?” Regina narrowed her eyes. “I know the signs, Theo.” Anger and disappointment blasted through her and she ran down the steps and strode along the path toward him. “I’ve been around enough drunks to recognize one when I see one, Mr. Dane. Shame on you. But I should have known that you’d celebrate with a bottle and a bawdy woman.”

She paused alongside him to deliver a frosty glare. The smell of whiskey was strong on him and she made a face of disgust. He tilted his head slightly to send her a questioning glance and moonlight played briefly across his features. Something black and wet painted the side of his face. Regina averted her gaze and had started to walk past him when she caught the distinct aroma
of fresh blood. She spun back and gripped his arm.

“Theo?” She felt the weakness in him, the slight tremble in his body, the unsteadiness in his stance. “Oh, my lord! You’re bleeding, aren’t you?” The gun. He’d mentioned a gun! “Have you been shot?”

“No, Regina. It’s nothing. I just need to go inside and clean up.”

“Let me help you.” She slipped an arm about his waist.

“It’s late. Let me get you home.”

“Nonsense. I’m not leaving you like this. Why didn’t you say something?”

“And miss having you think the worst of me? Where’s the fun in that?”

His sarcasm stabbed her. She took his hand and draped his arm across her shoulders. “I’m sorry, but you try my patience, Theo. It seems all we’re good at is thinking the worst of each other.”

“Speak for yourself. I don’t recall thinking badly of you.”