Beloved Texas Bride (5 page)

“Thank you, Cole. I mean it,” and both jumped at the second whistle signaling their imminent departure.

She climbed inside with a sense of relief this time, knowing this would be the final time she would ride in the cramped coach. She was thrilled and could not wait to see the city on their arrival. She had heard so much from May about how large it had grown due to the railroads and that it was a hub of activity. May knew her husband was setting up their homestead northeast of Dallas, so she still had some ways to travel but she was almost home. Elizabeth would ask for directions to the new nannyhouse once she arrived and find her way there even if she had to walk to it! She was ready to get started and find her place in the new town.

This could
NOT
be her new place in town. There was no way! Despite the snickering and dirty looks she had gotten from the depot when she asked directions, she was excited to be starting anew! The town was bustling with activity! Carriages everywhere crossed through the roads, along with buggies and bicycles. It was strange to see such a hub of activity so early in the morning. Where was the rugged Wild West? Where were the tumbleweeds?

 
They had arrived and disembarked early, so she expected the town to be sleepy and movement just beginning for the day. Instead, it reminded her of Indianapolis but in a different way. It still had a western flare to it, men wearing boots or tall hats throughout the roads. Belts with pistols hung from their sides. The women looked the same but somewhat more down to earth like May, while others certainly out polished her own decor that she had started out with. Elizabeth groaned and dusted off her skirt, smoothed her hair and grabbed her bag of belongings as she walked from the depot with a skip in her step.

She crossed the busy street to ask directions from the officer on the corner. He was patrolling and watching everyone around him. She saw him glance at her as she flagged him down. Elizabeth dug out of her reticule the newspaper article and asked, “Excuse me, could you tell me where this nanny shop is located?”

She watched the officer glare at her coldly and replied “Hell’s Kitchen. Ten blocks that way, you can’t miss it.” He abruptly walked off and left Elizabeth standing there. She glanced around looking at the buildings for any signs indicative of the direction. Seeing none, she picked up her bag and began her long walk.

If this was going to be how her life started in her new hometown, Elizabeth was far from impressed. The rudeness she had received asking directions was quite disheartening! Back in Indianapolis, everyone chatted when you walked through town. She was fully aware that she was new here and had yet to make friends, but with such sour expressions and cold treatment, how would she ever make any acquaintances? And if they were like the last person she spoke with, did she even need people like that in her life? Shaking her head to herself, she walked bravely onwards to her new home.

Elizabeth noticed that, block by block, each section of town had grown increasingly busy and rambunctious, even at this early hour. Women scantily clad were waving at the street from a balcony. Men walked through the streets boldly, some staggering, over to the large saloon on the far side of the roadway that bisected the town. She attempted to ask directions, yet again, and that the man had attempted to snatch her bag from her. Elizabeth got upset at the affront. She kicked him, resulting in a sore shin for him… and an injured toe for her. Several foul epithets were muttered as he walked off and she stuck up her chin, quickly making her way through the dense crowd.

Eying the building, Elizabeth gulped nervously at the lecherous façade of the building. It looked to be a saloon to her untrained eye, but maybe the nannies must all be taking lodging at the back of the building. Or maybe they were here to help educate the children of the “ladies of the night”.

She did not want to be associated with loose women, however, she knew that it was the Christian thing to do if you were called for such a duty. She would never be one to refuse to help the less fortunate, even if it meant dealing with the catcalls and being mistaken for a harlot. A nanny always took care of her charge and she would fill that role willingly if it kept her from being Mrs. Elias Barney.

Yuck and double yuck
, she thought.
 

Several men were gathered outside of the large saloon, each had a cheroot hanging from his mouth and watched her step onto the boarded walk with a lewd look in his eyes. Elizabeth could feel her skin crawl and broke out in a nervous sweat. She did not like this part of town whatsoever! She wanted to get inside, get checked in and hide away from the stares she was receiving. Finding her own lodging or a position as governess with her own room suddenly jumped to the top of her priority list.
 

Gathering her nerve, she boldly pushed open the swinging wooden panels and stepped inside of the noisy building. Looking around, she felt herself staring at the scene in front of her. A massive wooden bar lined one side of the room with a cracked mirror adorning the wall behind it. Several ladies were perched on the bar top, laughing and talking with men in the room. There was a heavy cloud of smoke in the room from all the cigars that were lit on the various tables. The clink of coins, ribald laughter and scraping of chairs were almost overwhelming, but the place was fascinating to watch.

She had never seen the inside of a saloon and it was a most decadent scene to witness! Elizabeth was certain she would have to pop her eyes back into their sockets when a woman made her way down the staircase in only her corset and chemise. She had never seen a chemise in that shade of crimson before in her life, nor had she ever seen a woman with the same shade of hair! She could see why they called it Hell’s Kitchen! People that dallied here in such a sinful state were surely bound for it! Elizabeth had never been devout, but she felt very prudish compared to the others in the room.
 

Elizabeth watched the woman, scantily dressed in red, cross the room towards her. She glided and affectionately touched several men along the way, never breaking her eye contact and sizing her up as she moved. Feeling very out of place, Elizabeth glanced quickly away looking for an exit. She was most definitely out of her element! Taking a deep breath and coughing at the smoke that hung in the air, she looked back up and jumped at seeing the vibrant woman smiling at her. Unfortunately, the smile did not reach her eyes.
 

“You lost or are you here for a job?” the red-haired courtesan rasped. Elizabeth could only assume her rough voice was due to yelling, smoking, drinking or a combination of all three. Either way, it sounded like gravel and grated the senses.
 

Elizabeth swallowed and gave a half smile at the woman. “I am here for the nanny position that was advertised,” she replied, as she pulled her small folded scrap of newspaper from her reticule.
 

Several men at the tables nearby began laughing and Elizabeth could feel her cheeks heating up with embarrassment. Being the guardian of a child was nothing to laugh about – it was quite the respectable job!

Clearing her throat as if to smother their laughter, she tried again. “I am here for the nanny position you posted in the Indianapolis Sentinel paper. Am I not in the correct location?” she queried, trying to tamp down her irritation. She hated being the butt of a joke. The laughter around her was making her feel uneasy.

 
The redhead smiled wryly and pulled her away from the tables. “Honey, do you know what job you applied for? I think you need to leave and go back to your daddy…unless you are running from home to find a new one?” she said slyly. “This is my place and I am more than willing to take you on. Are you a virgin? You here to learn a new trade?”
 

Elizabeth jerked away from the scantily clad prostitute and the surrounding tables full of mocking, lecherous smiles. “I beg your pardon! I believe I am in the wrong location,” she said hastily and fled the building quickly as if the dogs of hell were nipping at her heels.

Cole stayed far back, watching Elizabeth for some time. He wanted to make sure she reached her destination safely. She seemed so determined to make it on her own. He could respect that and it was endearing about her. He did wonder what she was running from when she left Indianapolis and what made her choose Fort Worth to start anew.

He followed for several blocks and began to grow concerned. Elizabeth was headed straight into the town’s gambling den called Hell’s Kitchen. The area was full of saloons, gambling halls, bars and whore houses. Cole slapped his forehead and ran his hand down his face in disbelief. Surely when she said she was going to become a nanny, she did not mean
that
kind of nanny?

The nannyhouse was a nickname for a renowned brothel in the middle of Hell’s Kitchen. If you wanted a woman, you headed there. The madam prided herself on having quite a variety of women all ages from around the world. He could see why, too, if she was advertising for a governess position, women would show up and be trapped with little or no money in a town with no family.

He had had enough.

Cole had watched Elizabeth weave her way through the busy streets and lost sight of her for several moments. He watched for her dark head to appear in the crowd and was growing increasingly frustrated he could not see her. Surely she had not attempted to enter the saloon? He could not see her anywhere as he perched up high in his stirrups, almost to a standing position to get a better view.

Seeing nothing, he moved to dismount and prepare to tie up his horse. He was prepared to pull her out bodily if she had entered the saloon dubbed “the nannyhouse”. It was no place for a lady and she was most definitely one, he thought thinking back to the way she would not loosen her stays as he had suggested during their travels across country. Cole was surprised to see her come barreling out of the swinging doors at full speed, her braid flying behind her. He almost laughed at her expression, however, it was not a humorous situation.

 
Cole pulled the horse up quickly in the street in front of her. “Elizabeth!” he barked out loudly as soon as he saw her step away from the doors. He could see her face jerk upwards towards his voice, her eyes wary but lighting up as she saw him. Moving the horse towards her, Cole reached for her to mount the horse with him.
 

Elizabeth watched him outstretch his hand towards her, yet again. He was always coming to her aid, apparently. She was so happy to see him there on the busy street and had been wondering how to get out of this area of town. Relieved it was nowhere near nightfall, she still did not feel safe whatsoever in this part of town called Hell’s Kitchen. She took his outstretched hand and moved to climb upon the horse with him.

 
Mounting carefully behind him, she held on, wrapping her arms around his waist as he took her bag from her. She leaned her head against his back and heard his voice rumble as he asked her where she was headed. “Out of here,” she muttered, frustrated.

“Cole, do you know where the nannyhouse is? That is where I am supposed to go for my new position. I must have been in the wrong location- or at least I hope so,” she told him. She heard him groan aloud at that as the horse started to turn around, leading them away from the squalor of this section of town.

“Where are we headed? Did I go too far?” she asked, hoping he knew the place she was supposed to be getting her new job at. Maybe she had actually been at the wrong location!

 
Cole was not sure how to explain and was frustrated she was further into her escapade than she realized. Did she leave Indianapolis without researching where she was going?

“Elizabeth, do you see that house of ill repute behind us? The one with the women on the upper balcony calling to the men? The one you just left,” he enunciated and then he sighed loudly with frustration.

“Elizabeth that is the nannyhouse. A nannyhouse is a nickname for a brothel here in Texas. They take care of men, get it?” he elaborated and turned back to head the way they had originally come from.

 
Elizabeth was mortified and stunned. A whore house! She had run away from her family and her life on the misunderstanding of what a nannyhouse was. Whatever was she to do now? She could not go back home, she wouldn’t!

“Cole, I think I need time to think and walk. Can you let me down?” she asked, holding back angry tears. She was truly lost at this point. Her meager baubles she had brought with her would only last so long. She was so mortified at the situation she had gotten herself into and angry that it had happened altogether.

 
Cole gritted his teeth in frustration. “No, you can’t get down here. You are coming with me until we can think of something safe for you,” he clipped, trying not to be upset with her but more so at the situation. His ranch was not the proper place for a single young woman. He knew his father had several ranch hands and one maid who had been with the family for years. If Consuela was there, she could serve as a chaperone until he could get her set up with another family. He assumed she would not want to go back to Indianapolis and he wasn’t sure that either of them had the funds available for that. “You can stay with me for a bit,” he explained in a much gentler tone.

 
Elizabeth said nothing but squeezed her arms around him tighter and tried not to cry. Tried, being the operative word. Elizabeth felt fat, hot tears roll down her cheeks onto his back and splash on her dingy blouse. She was bone weary, sore, and felt so low right now. It was all crashing over her and she could not help the tears. She gave an awful, wobbly sigh.

This was not an option she had ever considered and her stomach gave a lurch of hope. Could she then stay in Texas if she had a chance to find another position as a true nanny or governess? Or perhaps even a teacher? She would not consider going back home only to be shuffled off to the highest bidder- who currently was Mr. Barney.