Staking Their Claim (8 page)

Chapter Eight: May’s Advice

Leaving the safety of the cabin was the most frightening thing Jenny had ever done, only second to stealing Nigel’s clothes. She’d come to expect punishment for doing wrong, and she was pretty sure that taking his things from his trunk would earn her another caning at the very least, if she were staying. But she wasn’t staying.

As she donned his shirt and rolled up the hem of his pants she’d tied at the waist with string, she wiped away tears. The disguise was necessary if she was going to get out of Coloma, and even an outfit that swallowed her would draw less attention than the pretty dresses Cody had given her.

It was all her fault, she decided. The two men who’d saved her—the two protective men she’d come to care for—had turned on one another. They’d come to blows because of her, and Jenny had decided that it was all due to her failings, to her sin, to her horrible secret.

By day she’d spent time with them individually. But at night when it was dark, they both joined her together in her dreams. And as she lay in bed, she’d think of Cody’s intense eyes, his square jaw, his strong arms as he’d held her over his lap, his large hand delivering that first spanking. And she’d think of Nigel, and how he’d bared her bottom for the cane. And then she’d think of them not correcting her, but holding her, and then going beyond that to do—together—what May had let those two men do to her that day in Cora’s whorehouse. And there in the dark, the woman Cody and Nigel were treating as their sweet little ward would slide her hand between her open thighs and stroke her wet folds of flesh until she was struggling to contain the cry of her orgasm.

She was bad. She was wanton. She was no better than May, and that meant she wasn’t fit to be a wife to either an English gentleman or a principled cowboy. The sooner she was gone, the sooner they could concentrate on what they’d come to Coloma to do—make their fortune. She didn’t care about the gold anymore. They could have her claim and anything it brought; it wasn’t worth the guilt of destroying their friendship.

So with no real plan, Jenny Beaumont snuck out into the night. The mining camp and town never really seemed to sleep; men milled around, and Jenny kept to the shadows, realizing as she passed them that her short period of being safe and sheltered had made her forget the dangers this place held.

She’d tucked what money she had brought with her into the pocket of the pants and mapped out a loose strategy as she made her way into town. She’d stay at the boardinghouse for the night and hop a stage to San Francisco in the morning. Once there, she’d wire the men to let them know she was safe; she owed them that. Then she’d appeal to her aunt for some money. Jenny knew that would mean crafting a lie. Perhaps she’d tell her aunt she’d felt a call to become a nurse, or—better yet—a teacher, and that she needed a stipend to start her new life here since memories of her brother left her too pained to return home. Surely her aunt would understand. That’s what she would do. She’d teach. After all, she could read. And now she even knew poetry.

Her throat constricted with tears at the memory of Nigel’s reading as Cody sat watching with that half-smile on his handsome face. Much of her raising had been relegated to her cold aunt; she’d never really known a father’s love. In the brief time she’d spent with the Englishman and the cowboy, she felt as though she’d experienced it. Was it wrong that she felt she could lose herself in that warm cocoon of protection for the rest of her life? It hardly mattered now.

Jenny had reached the boardinghouse. The old man at the desk wouldn’t thank her for seeking a room so late, and she reached into her pocket, wanting to have the money in hand when she entered. Suddenly, she froze in her steps. It wasn’t money her hand encountered, but a hole. A sinking feeling formed in her chest as she stuffed her hand deeper, hoping perhaps she was wrong.

She wasn’t. Jenny resisted the urge to cry. Now what was she going to do? She couldn’t go back. She couldn’t stay out in the open. The alleys between the buildings were more dangerous than the open streets.

Then she remembered Cora’s. It was the one place in town where she’d seen other women, and even if they were ladies of ill repute, surely they’d take pity on her. She hurried across the street, keeping her head down under the brim of her hat.

Even though it was late, Cora’s girls were still working. When Jenny walked into the parlor, she saw a pretty, plump woman giggling as an Irishman complimented the size of her breasts.

“I love the way you talk,” the woman said, curling a strand of red hair around one finger as she batted her eyelashes at him.

“Well, then, what do you say we talk somewhere private?” he asked, and she turned, provocatively swaying her wide hips as the man unabashedly adjusted the tented front of his pants before rising to follow her.

“You looking for some company?”

Jenny turned to see an older woman behind her. The made-up face looked worn, but the eyes were calculating as they took in Jenny’s unusual attire.

“Uh, yeah.” She deepened her voice as she looked down, hoping to pass herself off as a shy youth. “I come to see May.”

“You’re in luck,” the woman said. “
May!
Got a young man here to see you!”

The woman looked back at Jenny. “You sure you’re old enough?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jenny said. “I was the runt of the litter back home, but I know what I’m doing. And I got plenty of money.”

“Good, because we got a couple of guys who take care of anyone who hurts the girls or try to skip out without paying.”

Jenny nodded, cursing herself for bringing up money.

When May appeared on the landing, Jenny turned and headed up the stairs, eager to be away from the woman she now realized must be the madam, Cora.

“You’re lucky. I’m between gentlemen callers,” May said over her shoulder as she led Jenny to a room and opened the door. Jenny walked inside; it was the same room she’d hidden in the night she’d seen May and the two men locked in the throes of passion. She kept her gaze trained to the floor, hoping to hide her blush.

“Have I seen you before?” May sounded slightly suspicious.

Now Jenny did glance up from under the brim of her hat, but quickly shook her head. Her heart was thudding in her chest.

What was I thinking?

But May had looked away again and was turning down the bed.

“A quiet one, huh? Well, the quiet ones are the most interesting, because they always want something unusual.” Having finished with the bed, May began to walk over, continuing to talk as she undid her corset. “There was a preacher man set up here in town. He was a quiet fella when he wasn’t saving souls of anyone who would listen. But at night he’d come around. Wanted me to tie him up to the bedframe and call him ‘Sally.’ One night he asked me to burn him with a cigarette.” She paused. “But there are some things I won’t do, no matter how much you give me.”

“I won’t,” Jenny suddenly said. “Ask, I mean. And you don’t have to undress. I don’t have any money.”

May stopped unlacing her corset.

“I’m… I’m not even a guy.” Jenny reached up, taking her hat off and unpinning the plait she’d affixed to the top of her head, allowing the braid to fall across her shoulder. “I didn’t come here for… what you give people. I came here to ask for help.”

May crossed her arms over the front of her unlaced corset. “I remember you now,” she said. “You were here about a week or so ago. I spoke to you on the stairs. You were dressed as a man then, too. I remember thinking you were the saddest looking little fella that I’d ever seen, and that you wouldn’t last here. Guess I was wrong. You’re still here.” She paused. “You’ve been pretending this whole time, sweetie?”

When Jenny nodded and began to cry, May walked over, intending to take her by the arm and lead her to a nearby chair.

“No,” Jenny said, sitting down, and launched into her story, relieved to unburden herself to the first sympathetic female ear since leaving her home. May listened, nodding and sighing as Jenny recounted how her brother’s friend and his English companion had saved her, how she’d been living under their protection, and how she’d decided to leave when she’d heard them fighting over her.

“Cody Drake and Nigel Simms.” May gave a small smile. “Yeah, I’ve heard the names but can’t say I’ve had the pleasure—or given it. Those fellas sound like decent men, hon.” She paused. “Those aren’t the kind of men a little thing like you should go running away from, if you don’t mind my saying. Especially if you’ve lost all your money.”

Jenny wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “But what am I supposed to do? I can’t ruin their friendship.” She looked at May. “I can’t go back. They’re better off without me. Even if I wanted to be with them, I don’t belong there. I belong… here.”

“Here? At Cora’s?” May put her hand over Jenny’s. “Now why would somebody like you say something like that?”

Now Jenny burst into fresh tears, answering only after May had sufficiently soothed her.

“Because I’m a lustful woman,” Jenny sobbed. “Even though I’ve never… been with a man, I have these desires. Oh, God forgive me, but I love both of them. I think of both of them, at night. And… it makes me feel…”

Now May laughed. “Bless your heart. That don’t make you bad, sugar. That makes you honest. Folks may tell a woman how to act, but her heart and body will have their own ideas. You want both these men?”

Jenny reddened, unable to answer.

“You want to fuck them?” May asked, and smiled when Jenny blushed and nodded slightly. “Honey, that doesn’t mean you’re a whore. It means you just love these fellas enough to want to give yourself to both of them. The world may disagree, but I don’t think love is ever a sin. The more the merrier, I say.”

“Oh…” Jenny said. She remembered May,
fucking
the two men and now felt ashamed for judging her so harshly. Kind May, who was not the immoral woman Jenny had thought, but a caring woman who seemed sympathetic to her plight.

“Listen, sweetie.” May rose. “I’m going to go talk to Cora. You can’t leave here tonight. How about you just lie down and rest. I’ve got a modest gown somewhere, I’m sure.”

“I can’t stay here,” Jenny said. “I don’t have any money.”

“It’s all right,” the dark-haired woman said. “You took up my time, so you owe me. My price is knowing you’re safe, at least for tonight, all rightee?”

How could Jenny refuse? May was right; Jenny had taken up her time and given her nothing in return. And she was exhausted, even if the exhaustion was more emotional than physical. She allowed herself to be bundled into bed in a borrowed gown that smelled of stale perfume and found herself easily drifting off to sleep.

Chapter Nine: Made for Two

Did she expect anything less than to see Cody and Nigel the next morning? Was it any surprise that they’d search the whole town—including Cora’s until they found her?

May was unapologetic about handing her over.

“Those men care about you,” she said. “Be glad for that. Take it from me; some of us would give anything to have just one man’s love. Looks like you have two.”

“Thank you,” Jenny said, hugging May. “If there was any way I could repay you…”

“Sugar, your men already saw to that.” When Jenny looked alarmed, she laughed. “Don’t worry. It’s not what you think. They paid me for my time, which was awfully nice.” She glanced at the men and then leaned in to put her mouth inches from Jenny’s ear. “I don’t think I’m nearly as lucky as you are; you get to go home with them.”

Jenny knew she had no choice, and something about that—about being pursued and taken back—secretly thrilled her. But it also scared her. While the men had been relieved to find her safe and in good, albeit dubious, keeping, the expressions on their handsome faces were stern, and they said little as they flanked her for the walk back to the cabin.

It was no secret now that there was a woman in the camp. As Jenny walked between Cody and Nigel she kept her eyes on the ground, careful to avoid the stares of those they passed. Her two guardians had bought her a new dress—a green gingham frock—to wear home. She did not have to look up to know that both her protective men were staring down any man who dared look at her for more than a second.

In the cabin, she jumped when Cody slammed the door behind them.

“What in the world were you thinking, Jenny?” he asked, as beside him Nigel stood grim-faced, his broad arms crossed across his chest.

“What was I thinking?” she asked, looking from one stern face to the other. “What do you expect? Did you really think I couldn’t hear you last night, practically killing each other over me?”

Nigel sighed. “We realized when we woke up to find you gone that was what had happened. But regardless, Jenny, you had to know that if we fought, it’s only because we love you. And that love would only increase our pain if you’d come to harm.”

Cody nodded. “And this ends now. We can’t risk you running away again. When we found out you were at Cora’s, we spent some time talking before you woke up. God knows we each want you for our own; I guess now you know that, too. But it’s too much to take. So we need you to make a choice, Jenny. We both want you, but only one can have you. The other is ready to accept that decision, if you’ll have one of us.”

Jenny again looked from one man to the other. She looked at Cody, tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair curling at his collar, his eyes so intense. He’d been the one to decide to take her in, the one who’d first spanked her for her own good. She looked at Nigel, strong and lean with that lock of sandy hair falling in almost a boyish fashion across his forehead—Nigel, with his sharp features that were almost too beautiful for a man. He’d read her poetry, and taught her the exquisite bite of the cane.

She burst into tears. “I can’t!” she cried. “And besides, you don’t want me! You think you do, but you don’t!”

“And why not?” Nigel asked.

She turned to them, her fists balled at her side. “Because I’m bad! Even if May tells me I don’t belong at Cora’s, I do! Because what kind of woman wants two men—not just to love, but in bed with her, holding her,
fucking
her?”