Cowboys and Highlanders (95 page)

“Building a one room mansion.” He set the hammer on a horizontal beam that would eventually make a window.

Marion walked to the front of the structure and ran her hand along the vertical wood of the door opening. “You didn’t give me a chance to explain.” She clasped her hands behind her back.

“Because there isn’t one.” He straddled a sawhorse.

Marion pulled the jacket tighter trying to chase away the cold of his gaze more than the chill in the air. “I’m sorry. Is that what you want to hear?” She shoved her hands into the deep pockets of the jacket. “I guess I did want to go to the shack. I was bored. I told Allison and she gave me an excuse. I took some cut watermelon to Cake and when I smelled the chowder, he served me a bowl. Before I knew it, the man that I played poker with at the reception and a few others--”

“Don’t forget Jack,” Train interrupted.

“Jack was there.” She shrugged her shoulders. “He was sitting across from me. Everyone was polite. I remembered what you’d said to me so I acted like a lady, excused myself, said thank you to Cake, and went back to the house to take a nap while I waited for you to come home.” She flipped her hair out of her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she repeated, voice straining even to her own ears.

“I am, too.” Turning from her, he picked his hammer up and renewed pounding.

Marion looked around the construction site. Pieces of cut and splintered lumber lay hazardously about. She began picking them up and tossing them into a central location a few yards away from the framed house. After a couple minutes, she could feel herself getting warm. Tossing TJ’s jacket over the sawhorse, she gathered her hair off her neck and pulled it into a knot.

Train’s hammering became a song with the crickets crooning backup. “When were you going to tell me about the house?” she asked, continuing to pick up bent nails carelessly tossed to the ground.

“After I won the bet,” he answered as if in no doubt of the eventual outcome of their wager. “You have two choices. Next week I’m going to Wyoming. I’m picking up a couple of mares. You can come with me, or you can stay here at the ranch. The house won’t be finished, but it’ll have four walls and a roof. Until I can make the furnishings we need, we’ll have to make do.”

“Maybe I’ll have won the bet and be on my way back to Copper City.”

“Isn’t going to happen. I happen to think we’ll be good for each other and I can see the big picture.” He let the hammer drop to his side. “I want you, Marion. And once is never going to be enough.”

Marion was quiet while she finished picking up debris.

“Don’t leave me here,” she said while using a branch from a pine tree to sweep the wood floor that was already in place. “I want to stay in Copper City with Sandy and the girls.”

Train dropped the hammer and stalked off without acknowledging her request.

“Train, wait,” she called, running after him. He reached the edge of the lake and picked up a stone. With the flick of his wrist, he sent it skipping along the surface of the water. She grabbed his arm before he sent another one flying through the air. “Patience maybe one of your virtues, but objectivity is definitely a problem.”

“You don’t work there anymore.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Well, I haven’t been doing much work around here either.” There was boldness in her voice as well as a subtle challenge.

“We both know why.”

“Yes we do, the damn bet. Every time I think about the stupid bet, I want to scream. I wish I would’ve kept my mouth shut, but we both know I have a hard time with that.”

He could have teased her, implying an all together different meaning than the one she intended, but he didn’t.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling a great deal of sexual tension. I don’t care beans about the bet.” The distance between them seemed to get smaller although neither of them moved.

“What exactly are you conceding?” His hands were beginning to shake. He shoved them into his pockets to keep Marion from seeing the anxiety racing through him. Blood in his veins felt ice cold as he waited expectantly for her to answer him.

“I don’t know. Let me ask you something.” She paused letting the significance of her question gain weight. “Why does it have to be marriage? Why can’t I show you how much you mean to me?”

He was quiet for a moment as he stared into her eyes. “It has to be marriage.”

Marion looked out over the water. She did not want to be without this man, but marriage was something she truly feared. “Train, even if you win the bet, I don’t think I can go through with it.” She looked down at her feet so she wouldn’t have to see the hurt in his eyes.

“Marriage is the only thing you haven’t given to everyone else.” Train sighed. “I’ll take you back to the brothel at the end of the week. I need to get back to work.” He walked back to the house and picked up his hammer.

Marion mounted Midnight Dancer without help and looked for the point on the mountain to show her the way back to the ranch. Even as she put distance between herself and Train, she thought she could hear the crack of his hammer. Feeling truly alone for the first time, she let the tears she never allowed herself to shed run freely down her face. Crying revealed weakness. It seemed Train had a way of forcing her to feel. She didn’t like emotions. Damn it. She wouldn’t care.

Chapter Eight

Marion sat at the kitchen table when Allison came down just before sunup. Swallowing the lump that continued to rise in her throat was making it raw. She sipped at the glass of whiskey trying to numb the pain.

“What happened?” Allison’s words were gentle to her ears. Marion half hiccupped, half sobbed as tears sprang to her eyes. Allison pulled her into a hug and tenderly rubbed her back.

“Get me out of here, Allison. Please.” Marion could hear the panic in her voice and had no doubt Allison would understand. “I keep hurting him when he pushes me. I can’t make him see that I can’t love him. I can’t love anyone. He wants to fix me, but he didn’t break me.” She put her hand over her heart. “Love is a lie. I can show him how I feel, but not the way he wants. I only know one kind of love, and he’s right, I’ve given it away. He wants a fairy tale, but I’m not a princess. You can’t convince me the past doesn’t matter. It does because it’s who I am. Marriage won’t make me change.”

Allison wiped a tear off Marion’s cheek. “Coffee first, then I’ll get TJ.”

“I’ll make coffee, just fetch TJ. I need to get out of here now. I’ll walk to Copper City if I have to.”

“It wouldn’t come to that. I’d let you have Sugar first.”

Marion put water in the coffeepot while Allison disappeared to find TJ. Both returned a few minutes later. “I guess the ride out to the house wasn’t as productive as you’d hoped,” he said to her as he sat down.

“On the contrary, last night was a series of revelations, the first being that I don’t belong out here. I’ll return every dime Train gave to Sandy, but I’m going back…” And then, with more emphasis. “Today. And you don’t need to worry about Train. I guarantee my leaving won’t come as a surprise.”

TJ took a sip of the coffee Allison had set before him. “I won’t let you go alone. I’ll send a rider with you. He’ll bring Midnight Dancer home again.”

“Not Jack,” she said emphatically. “And not Charlie or his friend either.”

Allison turned her back to them, but Marion still saw the smile. She might find it amusing, however Marion’s heart ripped in two.

“Anything else?” When Marion shook her head, TJ said, “Good.”

She was halfway back to Copper City before she let herself breathe easy. It felt like a vise had clamped around her chest and was squeezing the air out of her lungs. Now with Midnight Dancer trotting along beneath her and a quiet man riding next to her, she felt more like herself than she had in several days. Better she made the decision to leave than wait for Train to realize it was a big mistake to get involved with a whore. He’d soon realize that every time another man approached her he’d surmise the wrong intention.

What did they have together anyway? The ache in her chest told her it was a lot more than physical attraction. She’d seen many good-looking men in her life, but none represented more than an hour’s worth of work. Yes, Train was different. He wouldn’t simply settle for her body, he wanted her soul.

* *
*
* *

Train peered into the open kitchen door. “Hi, Sugar.” He walked in and sat down, putting his hat on the table.

“I wish all of you would quit calling me that. You look tired. Do you want coffee?”

“She left?”

Allison glanced over her shoulder with a sympathetic smile.

“Good,” he said and groaned. Tipping his head back, he closed his eyes for a moment and ran his fingers through his hair.

Allison’s hand stilled as she held the cup in front of him. “I don’t understand. I thought you were in love with her.”

“I am.” He took the cup from her hand. “But I can’t get anything done with her around. I figure the best way for me to get what I want is for her to go back. I was mean to her last night knowing she’d be angry enough to leave.” He ground his fists into his eyes. “There’s no way I’m getting any sleep in the shack.”

“Go to bed,” she pointed to the living room. “Upstairs now and I don’t want to see you until dinner.”

Train didn’t have the energy to argue. He climbed the steps to the room Marion had vacated. Normally when he was this tired, he would kick off his boots and crawl into bed fully clothed. Knowing how Marion felt about clean sheets, he dropped his trousers, and took off his shirt before climbing under the covers. Smiling, he couldn’t help putting his nose into her pillow and inhaling deeply. Finally, he was going to get a good night’s sleep.

A few hours later, he felt refreshed. He headed down the stairs. TJ had his family gathered around the supper table ready for dinner when he came into the kitchen. “Sorry to interrupt,” he said as he grabbed his hat from the counter where Allison had left it.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Allison set a place for him.

“Thanks, but I need to get out to the house. I need a home to bring my bride to after I win the bet.”

“Marion said she didn’t want to get married,” TJ interrupted.

“She lied. She left so she’d have an excuse for why she didn’t win. Don’t ever play cards with her either. She hates to lose. That’s why she cheats. I guess my relationship with her will always be…” He searched for the right word. “…complicated,” he finally said. “Not like the two of you. Marion doesn’t have a feminine side.” Train raised his eyebrows. “But she does have a woman’s scorn.” He took a piece of cornbread off the table. “Can I burden you again tomorrow?” he asked Allison. “I get more work done at night, but it leaves me with the problem of sleep.”

“After supper I’ll come out and help for a couple of hours,” TJ said.

Train tipped his hat as a gesture of thanks and went out the kitchen door.

* *
*
* *

Marion held Sandy’s hand as the doctor administered another shot. “How long does she have?” Sitting at Sandy’s bedside, she glanced hopefully to the doctor.

“Her lungs are filling up. There isn’t much we can do except make her comfortable. She’d feel better if she’d quit smoking tobacco and stay off the whiskey. Her body needs rest. She’s worked too hard for too long.” Sandy’s choking cough caused him to take out his stethoscope and listen to her lungs. Marion watched him expectantly. He shook his head.

Marion followed him to the other side of the room. “She probably only has a few hours, a day at the most.”

“Quit whispering over there. You aren’t saying anything I don’t already suspect, so out with it.” Sandy gasped at the exertion and laid her head back into the propped pillows of her bed.

“You don’t know anything,” Marion chastised. “If you’d lie down and take it easy maybe you’d feel better.” She turned back to the doctor. “Why the sudden turn in her condition?”

“She’s known for some time her end was near.”

“She didn’t look sick,” Marion said defensively.

“How could you tell? She wears so much makeup one wouldn’t know her on the street without it. And she smokes too many of those damn cigarettes. Her lungs don’t know fresh air. She should get out of town. Go back to the ranch,” he said loud enough for Sandy to hear.

“Shut up and hand me my cigar.”

“Send for me when the time comes.” He gathered his bag and overcoat. “It won’t be long.”

Marion saw him to the door and gathered the girls around for a meeting. The middle of the day was a slow time for business.

Marion started by saying, “I vote we close for a couple of days. I realize we all need money. Sandy needs us more. The doctor said she won’t be with us much longer.” She took a deep breath. “As soon as she realized her time was near, we made a deal. I guess because I’ve been here the longest, she trusted that I would continue to operate the brothel by her standards.”

“You’re the madam of the house now,” Cassie asked.

“Not yet. As long as Sandy is with us, this is her place. I just thought you should know you’ll still have a home.”

“What about your cowboy?”

Marion wondered about that, too. The week was coming to an end. She didn’t know whether Train would show to collect his prize or not. Remembering the night she left gave her little insight to where his thoughts were right now. “I’m officially retired. From now on, my work will be to seeing that your lives are easier than ever before.

“Sandy has been out of the ranks for too long,” Marion continued. “We’ve all been in worse places than this, but I think she takes too much from us.”

“Are you sayin’ you’ll give us more of our money?” one of the girls asked.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry Sandy’s not going to be around, but if you’re goin’ to be taking less. I reckon I’ll like working for you.” The girl stood and went up the stairs. “Since you’re givin’ us a day off, I’m goin’ to bed.”

Marion watched her with a heavy heart. She couldn’t really blame some of the girls for their indifference. Sandy had become close to a few, not all. But even those who weren’t closest to Sandy would be shedding tears. She’d given them all a safe home. Just some a lot longer than others.

* *
*
* *

TJ gave Train a signed note authorizing him to make a bank draft to pay for the mares in Wyoming. “Ask for my suite at the hotel in Copper City. Consider it the honeymoon.” He smiled. “I’ll test the fireplace at your cabin while you’re gone and have a bed from one of my spare rooms taken over. You can figure out the rest when you get back.”

“I still can’t believe we raised the house.” Train ran his finger around the brim of his hat. “Thank you, TJ. I owe you.”

“A few months back I asked you to do something for me.”

“To stay away from Allison.”

TJ acknowledged with the almost imperceptible nod of his head. “I guess now we’re even.” TJ put his hands in his pockets. “I hope Marion completes you the way Allison does me.”

“TJ, now that I’ve spent time with Marion, I realize what I felt for Allison was nothing more than puppy love.” Train ran his hand along Clive’s back. His bedroll tucked in tightly behind the saddle. A canteen filled with water, and his loaded rifle hung from the saddle horn. This was familiar to him. Going back and forth to town on his trusty mount, only this time he’d be returning with a bride. He mounted.

“Go claim your prize,” TJ slapped the rump of the horse sending him into a full gallop.

* *
*
* *

Marion called the doctor the following morning. She had kept a bedside vigil, and just after sunrise, Sandy took her last breath while holding Marion’s hand. Knowing death was on the doorstep didn’t make it any easier watching the woman who gave her an education as well as a safe, clean, place to live, pass on. Sandy hadn’t always been a kind person, but she had been good to her over the years. They weren’t just business associates. They weren’t just friends, but family. Now she really was alone.

Tears flowed when the doctor came for the body. “What do you want done? Does anyone know if she has relatives?”

“She wanted to be buried in the city cemetery. I’ll make the arrangements. I also have an address for a brother who lives in Helena. I’ll wire him with the news. I’m sure he’ll want to pay his respects now that she’s no longer with us.”

One of Sandy’s concerns had been her brother. Decades prior, he had disowned her, calling her a soiled dove. Marion had laughed watching Sandy dramatically act out the part of her brother from his place at the pulpit. “Sin of the flesh…” she would imitate. “…is the touch of the devil.” Then she would throw her arms wide and say, “Praise the Lord for sending him to Hell. I’m going to need a friend when I get there.” Marion had no doubt God would have a few words for the soiled dove on his doorstep, the first one being, welcome home.

Marion sat at Sandy’s desk after the bustle of activities finally died down. With a cup of tea, she began the painstaking task of going through several years’ worth of papers, contracts, and mementos that for whatever reason Sandy had decided to keep.

Marion didn’t realize how much time had passed until Cassie poked her head through the door and asked if she were hungry. “I guess I am.” Marion rubbed small circles into her temples. “Who cooked?”

Cassie shrugged her shoulders. “No one.” She came in and sat on a small couch near the desk. “The girls went out. They said it was because they wanted to remember how Sandy loved to have a good time. I can’t stop thinking how she’s never going to have another one.” Cassie’s eyes glassed over.

“Go ahead and cry for her,” Marion said. “But don’t think for one minute she wasn’t living exactly how she wanted.”

“She always seemed happy when she was in the parlor.”

“Because she loved men.” Marion laughed.

“She thought the cowboy got to you.” Cassie looked to the ground and then met Marion’s gaze. “Is he why you aren’t working any more?”

Marion wished she were having this conversation with Sandy. Cassie didn’t know the dynamics of where she came from and the profound effect Train had on her. “You could say that.” She closed her eyes and pictured Train standing in the shadow of the stable. “It doesn’t matter. It’s been a week.” She glanced at Cassie’s puzzled expression. “Never mind, let’s go eat.” Marion could afford it now. Until Sandy’s brother revealed his intentions towards the brothel, she had sole responsibility for the finances.