Between Two Worlds (9 page)

“Thank you, Lucinda,” Gabriel said.

Delaney’s head tilted.

The woman giggled again and explained. “I’m not Mrs. Quinn. My
name is Lucinda Evans. Come in! Come in! Please have a seat in the parlor.” She
led them into the front room, which was bedecked with exquisite furnishings. A
deep red velvet loveseat with claw feet sat in front of floor-to-ceiling
windows, which were graced with lace curtains. Two armchairs, covered in the same
velvet, stood guard on each side of the loveseat. On one wall was an upright
piano, and along the other wall was a small game table with a chess set on top.
A bookcase held volumes of hardbound books, and several small tables with etched
glass whale oil lamps atop them had been placed strategically about the room.
The plank floor was covered with a huge red, navy and beige oriental carpet
with fringed edges.

“Please, have a seat. Charlotte will be with you soon,” Lucinda
said. “She has her hands deep in dough at the moment.” She showed them the
palms of her own hands, which were white with flour.

Delaney and Gabriel sat opposite each other in the armchairs. “I
apologize for assuming you were Mrs. Quinn,” Delaney said.

“No need.” Lucinda brushed her hands against her apron. “I’m a
border myself. I was just helping Charlotte in the kitchen with pies for
tonight’s dessert. She’s running late getting dinner on.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to be interrupting the two of you at such a busy
time.”

“Don’t be silly. We were hoping we’d get a chance to meet you in
person. We just didn’t know it would be so soon. She and I saw you save the
little boy earlier today. We happened to be sitting on the porch having a cup
of tea when those horses went wild. It was truly a brave thing you did. We’re
all so grateful to you.” Lucinda’s eyes crinkled as if she were about to tear
up.

“Thank you. Anyone would have done the same thing. I just happened
to be at the right place at the right time. I’m glad the child wasn’t hurt.”

Lucinda’s face was as round as the moon and just as bright.
Delaney already liked her. “Oh, he’s fine,” she said. “I think children must be
like cats.  They have nine lives, and probably more to spare. It’s a good
thing, too. They can get into a lot of mischief without even trying.” The three
of them chuckled and then Lucinda excused herself. “I’ll go get Charlotte. Can
I offer you a cup of tea or coffee while you wait?”

“I’m fine, thanks,” Delaney said.

“Dr. Whitman?”

“None for me either.”

Lucinda left the room. When she was out of hearing distance,
Delaney whispered, “She’s so cheerful. I really like her.”

Gabriel nodded in agreement. “Lucinda’s a sweetheart. I don’t know
her well, but every time I see her, she’s always friendly.”

“What’s her story?”

“I don’t know much,” he answered in a quiet voice. “All I’ve heard
is that she came to Phoenix from Kansas a few years ago as a mail order bride.”

Delaney’s mouth opened in surprise. “You don’t say! What
happened?”

“Apparently she got off the stage, took one look at her future
husband, and turned tail and ran.”

Delaney chuckled,  picturing the scene. “What was wrong with the
guy? Did he have one big eye in the center of his forehead or something?”
Memories of all the duds she’d dated in the past few years flashed through her
mind. She leaned in toward the doctor to hear the juicy details.

“Apparently the gentleman smelled.” He didn’t bother to hide a
grin.

Delaney sighed and nodded knowingly. She’d been there before.
“That’s too bad. She came all the way from Kansas to marry. What a letdown that
must have been.”

“Don’t feel too bad for her. She’s now engaged to Ike Kingston. He
runs the livery and stables in town.”

“Good for Lucinda. Ike must bathe regularly,” Delaney joked.

“He works with horses every day, but she must not mind the aroma
of animals as much as she did the odor of a foul-smelling human.”

They stopped gossiping and broke apart when they heard footsteps
approach.

“Miss Marshall, I’m Charlotte Quinn. Nice to meet you.” A slender,
sour-faced woman with a long nose strode into the parlor, with Lucinda at her
side. As she held out her hand in greeting, Delaney and Gabriel stood. Delaney
shook hands and swept her eyes over her.

The stern-looking lady appeared to be in her fifties, or maybe
even the early sixties. Her gray hair was pulled severely back from her face
into a bun at the nape of her neck. She, like Lucinda, wore an apron over a
simple cotton dress, which was also dusted with flour. Her mouth barely cracked
when she said, “I understand you’re in need of a room. I have one available.
It’s upstairs. Do you mind walking up stairs?”

“Not at all.”

“Fine. My bedroom is downstairs, as is Lucinda’s. Upstairs there’s
Mr. Wister—he’s only here temporarily—and a young widow and her son.  Their
names are Georgia and Fletcher Brent. Georgia cleans for me. Little Fletcher is
seven years old. He’s no trouble,” she added quickly. She glanced at the two bags
that were on the floor. “Are those all the things you have?”

“Uh, yes. I like to travel light.” Out of the corner of her eye,
Delaney could see Gabriel’s mouth turn up. She knew he’d gotten her little
joke. “Your home is lovely, Mrs. Quinn.” She let her eyes roam over the room
again.

“Thank you.” There was a slight crease in the woman’s lips. “If
you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your room.” As she stepped out of the parlor
and marched toward the staircase in the foyer, Delaney grabbed her two sacks
and hurried to catch up. Charlotte spun on her heel and addressed Gabriel. “Dr.
Whitman, you may wait here. Only male borders are allowed upstairs.”

“Of course. I believe I’ll head on back to the office anyway and
let Miss Marshall get settled in. She’s had a long day.” He bowed to all three
ladies.

Delaney stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “Thank you for
showing me around today, Gabriel. And for saving my life,” she added with a
smile.

He reached for her hand. She hesitated at first, but couldn’t
resist the strong desire to touch him. When she placed her palm in his, she
felt a jolt similar to electricity surge through her body. It was as powerful
as being struck by lightning. When he released her hand, she realized he’d
pressed some dollar bills into it. He formally said, “It’s been my pleasure, on
both accounts. I’m sure you’ll get a good night’s sleep here at Mrs. Quinn’s.
If it’s all right with you, I’d like to come by in the morning and take you to
breakfast.”

Charlotte spoke up. “I serve breakfast to my borders, Doctor. It’s
included in the rate. Seven o’clock sharp every morning. You’re welcome to join
us if you’d like. Guests pay one dollar.”

“I accept,” Gabriel said without hesitation. “I’ll bring my
dollar.”

“Ike will be here,” Lucinda chimed in. “He’s my fiancé, you know.”
The woman beamed from ear to ear. “I’d love for you to meet him, Miss
Marshall.”

“I look forward to it. And please, call me Delaney, both of you.”

“That’s a unique name,” Charlotte said, with a raised brow. “Is it
Irish?”

“As a matter of fact, it is.”

“Then you might enjoy getting to know Donovan McKinney. He owns
the café in town, and his family emigrated from Ireland to Phoenix many years
ago when he was just a youngster.”

Delaney and Gabriel exchanged glances. “I’ve met him already,” she
said. “We had lunch at his restaurant today.”

Gabriel turned for the door. “I guess I’ll see you at seven
o’clock in the morning then. Thank you, Charlotte. Lucinda. Good night,
ladies.” He touched the brim of his cowboy hat.

“Good night,” the trio chimed in unison.

As Delaney started up the stairs behind Mrs. Quinn, she slid her
hand along the gleaming oak banister and leaned over so she could nonchalantly
peek at the doctor. His shoulders were broad and his back looked strong.  She’d
already noticed how snugly his corduroys fit those muscular thighs and calves,
but it didn’t hurt to take a second look.

Just as his hand rested on the glass doorknob, Gabriel glanced over
his shoulder and caught her gawking. Mortified, she ducked her head back and
hurried up the stairs, but not before she saw his mouth curve into a
heart-melting smile.

He began to whistle and closed the door behind him.

~ * ~

Charlotte unlocked the corner room with a skeleton key and ushered
Delaney in. The small bedroom, just like the rest of the house, was decked out
in Victorian comfort and felt homey. A four-poster oak canopy bed with a thick
quilt on top was up against one wall, and a cedar hope chest stood at its foot.
A brick fireplace, which she wouldn’t need at this time of year, was against the
opposite wall. Above the chunky mantel hung an oil painting of an English rider
and a horse chasing a hound. A dark bureau filled the third wall, and more lace
curtains hung in the tall windows that overlooked the street. A low chair stood
next to the bed, as well as a small oak table and oil lamp.

“This room is charming,” Delaney said. “It reminds me of a B&B
I stayed in once in Sedona.”

“B&B?”

Darn! There I go again
. “Another
boarding house,” she said without further explanation.

“Oh.” Charlotte thanked her for the compliment and delivered her
list of rules. “The rate is seven dollars per week, payable every Monday. No
men visitors, except in the parlor and dining room. No smoking in the house at
all.”

“No problem. I don’t smoke.”

“There’s a wash-up room at the end of the hall, which is shared
with the other upstairs borders. We have modern plumbing in the house, so
you’ll find a toilet, sink
and
tub in that room,” Charlotte said with
pride. “Breakfast is at seven, dinner at six o’clock. Borders are on their own
for the noon meal. Georgia will launder your bed linens every Friday. She also cleans
the public rooms of the house, but you are responsible for keeping your own
room neat and tidy. Are there any questions?”

Delaney shook her head. “Sounds fine to me.” She handed Charlotte
a couple of the dollar bills Gabriel had snuck into her hand before he left.
He’d known she didn’t have the cash to cover the room. “I don’t really know how
long I’ll be staying, but I’ll go ahead and pay you now for two days. If that’s
all right.”

“That’ll be fine.” Charlotte accepted the cash and stuffed it in
her apron pocket. “You go ahead and unpack.” She fixed a curious gaze on
Delaney’s meager two bags again. “Rest until dinner, if you’d like. You can
meet everyone else at that time. Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will. Thank you so much.”

“I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”

“I’m sure I will be.”

When Charlotte left, Delaney shut the door behind her. She tossed
the bags on the chair, sat down on the bed and was pleasantly surprised by how
soft it was. She unlaced her boots, pulled them off and let them drop on the
floor with a thud. Swinging her legs up, she stretched out on the bed and let
her head sink into the feather pillow. Gabriel was correct. It had been a very
long, emotionally draining day. Before long she’d drifted right to sleep.

Eight

A knock on the door caused Delaney to stir.

“Miss Marshall, are you up?”

What time was it?
Rubbing the
sleep out of her eyes, Delaney glanced at the watch on her wrist.
Six-thirty?
She sat up in bed and stretched as she yawned.

Another rap sounded and the voice called out again, “Miss Marshall?”

“Yes. Coming.” She dangled her legs over the side and slid off the
bed and padded over to the door. Mrs. Quinn’s face stared back at her when she
opened it. She yawned again. “Am I late for dinner? I’m sorry. I guess I was
more tired than I thought.”

“Dinner is over,” Charlotte answered.

“Oh.” Delaney’s stomach rumbled as if on cue. 

“You slept through the night. Breakfast is in thirty minutes. I
thought you’d want to freshen up before you come down, since Dr. Whitman said
he’d be joining us.”

“I slept through the night?” Delaney’s mouth fell open. “I don’t
remember the last time that happened. I usually toss and turn all night long.”

“I pride myself on my comfortable beds. It’s not unusual for
guests to sleep heavily after traveling a long distance,” Charlotte said.

If only she knew just how long a distance I traveled
. “Thank you, Mrs. Quinn. I’ll wash up and be down soon.”

A gentle smile tugged at Charlotte’s thin lips. “Feel free to call
me by my Christian name. Everyone does. I’ve been a widow more years than I was
married.”

“All right. Thank you, Charlotte.” Delaney watched her glide
regally down the staircase, and then she scurried to the end of the hall to the
bathroom. Just as she reached for the doorknob, another bedroom door banged
open and a blond boy skidded into the hallway. His and Delaney’s eyes
connected.