The Heart of a Soiled Dove (9 page)

The next time Aurora saw Luke, Christopher was with him. Aurora had been surprised by the lateness of the call, but wouldn’t think twice about entertaining friends.

“Come in. I’ll set some coffee on. We’re in luck – Carrie Anne brought us over some molasses cookies today.”

With Emmy, the four sat around a table and Christopher pulled out his cards. “I’m gonna teach you girls some poker.”

“Playing for beans, of course.”

“Of course, Aurora. What did you think? I’d take your money?” Christopher smirked.

She egged him on. “You might wish in the end to take back those words.” Aurora sat in position to be dealt in. She smiled beautifully at her opponents. She was competitive and into the game, so it did not register how Luke was peculiar in his mannerism towards Emmy. And she vaguely saw the guilt cross Emmy’s face whenever Christopher spoke to her.

Emmy nearly panicked when he said, “Emmy, let’s get some fresh air.”

“I should help Aurora….”

Aurora was quick to give the couple time alone. Emmy needed friends and she wasn’t going to allow her to sulk alone day in and day out. No more. “Nonsense, you go outside. Luke will help me clean up.”

When the couple disappeared Luke said, “Apologies that I brought him tonight. He insisted.”

She looked at him, her brows creased. “Why should I care that he came? He’s delightful company. You’ve no call to apologize.”

“It’s just late and I didn’t mean to inconvenience you.”

She set down the saucer and rested her fingers onto his muscled arm. “Your visits are never an inconvenience, Luke. You ought to know that by now.”

Aurora turned from him gently and returned to the sink basin. Too late she saw that his hand raised, just missing a stroke to her hair. She gulped hard and pretended not to have noticed. She handed him a cup. “Dry.”

He lowered his hand. “Yes, Ma’am.”

It happened a few days after Emmy returned from spending time with Christopher. Aurora’s hope had been dashed and Emmy had withdrawn emotionally. It was disheartening to see that there wasn’t anything good enough to keep her around the ranch. That she herself was not enough, her friendship, her love and care. At least the weeks Emmy had stayed home had fattened her some. Aurora felt better about that. But for whatever reason, Emmy decided to pick up old habits again.

Carrie Anne nudged her from thought with a slip of paper in hand. It contained items Roman needed from town. The interruption was welcome, breaking the spell of inadequacy. With pride Carrie Anne stated, “I wrote this list myself.”

Aurora glanced at the page and nodded with approval. “I’m so proud of you. Looks like you don’t need any more learning.”

“Would you mind if I borrowed your books?”

“Of course not. I have a better idea. I would like you to order yourself a couple from the store today. They’ll be yours to keep.”

“I couldn’t do that, Aurora.”

“You can and you will. You work just as hard as the rest of us. Don’t worry, you can still borrow mine.”

Carrie Anne looked troubled. “I’ll have to check with Roman on this.”

“I understand.”

“Meantime, I’ll just borrow yours.”

They climbed into the buggy and rode in comfortable silence until they reached the mercantile. Aurora left Carrie Anne to the business of seeing the list filled by Mr. Clawson and set out on foot to pay a surprise visit to Emmy. She arrived at the assayer’s office and waited until he finished with a customer. “Can I help you, Miss Young?”

“I was hoping to see Emmy while I’m in town. I brought her something to eat for later.”

Confusion swept over his eyes. “You’ll not find her here.”

“But I thought….”

“She hadn’t worked for me but the one time.”

“But she comes to town daily,” she said and shook her head. “I apologize to have bothered you.”

He stepped out from his desk. “The fact is, she was a good worker. I was disappointed in her decision not to continue on. Give her my regards when you see her next, would you?”

Aurora looked into his kind and sincere eyes. “Yes. I will. Thank you.”

She searched the buildings of town and wondered why Emmy wouldn’t have told her she worked elsewhere. It should be no secret. The heaviness in her spirit weighed her down until she could no longer deny what Emmy was up to. She felt her heart would shatter into a thousand pieces at the thought of Emmy selling herself.

And to make her day worse, the last man Aurora ever wanted to see emerged from the jail. She quickly went towards the mercantile in order to avoid him. But it was not to be. The sheriff spotted her and walked slowly after her.

“What are you doing at the assayer’s office? A cattle ranch not enough for you? You mining, too?” Corbin Bradbury folded his arms.

She despised his condescension. “What I do is none of your business.”

He peered down. “My job is to know
everyone’s
business.”

“Please, just leave me alone.”

He looked towards Thatcher Poe’s place. “You wouldn’t be looking around for your girl would ya be?”

“She’s not
mine
,” she snapped.

“I suppose I wouldn’t want to lay claim to her neither anymore.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Looks like I’ll soon be getting all the proof I need on you and your little ‘ranching’ operation,” he sneered.

She burned with confusion. Would someone tell her what was going on? Her determination was overwhelming. There was a misunderstanding and Aurora would get to the bottom of everyone’s vague attitude where Emmy was concerned. But as the sheriff continued to gloat, she knew no forthcoming answer would be coming from him. As she managed to get away as stoically as possible, she heard him say, “Check in with Thatcher, why don’t ya?”

Aurora gasped.

With that awful comment he finally left her alone. She sought out the Lady of the Night Saloon. Is that what he meant? Emmy would be there? Was that Donovan Ramsey dismounting in front of it? Torn between curiosity and keeping Carrie Anne safe from this town, she went back to the mercantile.

Donovan’s blood was boiling and it was not from the heat pounding against his skin. He tied his horse at the hitching post and stood outside the Lady of the Night Saloon. He was furious to waste a precious working day on account of Christopher, and worse, he was furious about having to go into this god forsaken place again, without the ritual of the ending of a cattle drive. In irritation, he swore out loud. A mother walking by huddled her child away from Donovan. He assumed she saw anger spilling out from all over him. He paced the boardwalk, gaining momentum and talking himself out of losing his temper on his ranch hand. He would need Christopher’s help come the cattle drive. Donovan’s exhortations to himself did not last long and he slammed open the double doors. His eyes adjusted to the darkness. Betsy was singing at the piano and Josie looked surprised to see him. Donovan pierced her with a hard look. “Where is he?”

“Where is who? We have several
he’s
here.”

Her smart mouth fed his rage.

She did not flinch as he moved abruptly towards her, used to being manhandled, he was sure. Out of impatience with everyone, Donovan asserted himself a bit too close to her.

“Step away from her, Ramsey.”

Donovan’s fiery eyes lit upon Thatcher, holding a shotgun less than five feet away.

“Just show me where Christopher is and I’ll be out of here.”

“I’m not in the habit of giving up my customers.”

In response, Donovan pulled out his pistol. Five shots rang through the air in quick secession and Josie screamed. The note Betsy was singing hung in the air amidst the silence. Before anyone even moved, the pistol was aimed at Thatcher’s head. “One shot left.”

Half-dressed men came pouring out of rooms, most with long johns on and gun belts hastily attached to hips. Donovan’s eyes scoured for Christopher, but he was not in the mix. Could he have been misled? After another forced coercion, Thatcher finally told him where Christopher was – just as the door to a back room opened and the sought after man stumbled out looking dazed. He spotted Donovan and seemed to remember what his temper could be like. Donovan ripped the rifle from Thatcher’s hands before heading towards his stupid ranch hand. Everyone cautiously waited for Christopher’s demise.

Christopher fumbled for the gun on his belt, but Donovan was already standing directly in front of the doorframe, looking intently upon his ranch hand. He covered his nose against the smell coming from the room. “Opium, Christopher? You’re bailing out on me for this? You no good….” He stopped instantly. Surprised eyes rested on Emmy, smiling slightly as if it were good of him to join them. He grabbed Christopher by the collar and tossed him out the door. “Get out of here. I’ll deal with you later.”

Sheriff Bradbury stepped aside as Christopher scrambled out. Donovan halted testily in front of him. “See for yourself. No harm done,
sheriff
.” He withdrew a wad of money from his vest, looked back at Thatcher and tossed it down. “This more than covers any damage I did.” He looked hard at Corbin. “Now, get out of my way.”

Corbin moved. Donovan turned to Josie figuring she’d be best to get Emmy home, not that he should have a care about her. He realized it wasn’t Emmy he cared about, but Aurora. Blast them all. He swore again, not wanting to be in this inconvenient situation.

He turned to Josie, his look daring anyone to raise a stink. “I need you to do something – get that foolish girl and take her home.”

“What’s the matter with you?” Aurora hustled Emmy in, seeing her off kilter walk being supported by a prostitute. Her eyes appealed to Josie for understanding.

Emmy frowned. “You’ve no call or authority to speak to me like that.”

To Aurora’s surprise, Josie spoke unkindly to Emmy. “I’ve held my tongue long enough. You’re messing with danger. You can’t handle Poe and what his intentions are for you.”

“I’m with Christopher, not
Poe
.”

Aurora looked between the two of them.
What on earth
?

“Look. I’m only trying to help you.”

“Emmy…?” Aurora started to question, just as Josie began to lay down a torrential scolding on Emmy.

“I don’t know why you’d leave all this for some low down cowpoke,” Josie exclaimed. “If I had me a place to stay, I’d never leave it. Don’t you never come back to Poe’s.”

Before Emmy could respond, Josie hurried away, leaving them. Aurora was torn between compassion, confusion and anger. She felt foolish for being caught up in herself and her ranch over the welfare of one of her own.

Finally Aurora took charge, shaking the urge to smack Emmy awake and smack the darned truth out of her as to what she’d been doing lately. But she couldn’t do it and Emmy stumbled up the stairs, leaving the sound of a door slamming for Aurora to absorb. It looked as though she’d be preparing supper for one tonight.

A sudden banging on her front door startled her out of any wits she had left. If it were any one of her hands, they would have been wise enough to call out first. The pounding caused her to answer the door with her rifle. It was Donovan. What could he possible want? Could this day get any worse? Her heart did its usual flip upon seeing his strong face. It irritated her.

“What are you…?”

He barged in, not waiting for her to finish. “I want you to release Roman from here.”

What?

Her mind reeled. This was the last thing she’d expected. “Why would I do that?” She knew this man had a lot of nerve, but this was too much.

“He doesn’t belong here. You’re going to ruin him. And what about Carrie Anne?”

Her mind was being whipped about. “Carrie Anne is my friend. I would never let any harm come to her.” Aurora resorted to pleading in order to understand. “Please, tell me what all of this is about.”

Donovan began stalking her in her own living area, his dark eyes flashing. He was as intimidating as the devil. Soon she was trapped between him and an armchair. His strong musky and tobacco smells sent a chill through her. He was close enough to… kiss. Had she lost her mind? He was going to kill her with his bare hands and she felt attraction?

“I’ll tell you what it’s about. You are not a reputable woman. Your first impression on this town was to attend a whore-shopping auction.”

Aurora pushed his chest with all her might, but he didn’t budge. “
That’s
what this is all about? It’s a misunderstanding. I didn’t figure you to believe gossip.”

Donovan gritted his teeth. “Release Carrie Anne and Roman from this farce of a cattle ranch and let them come back to me.”

He stepped away from her. Finally. She could gather her thoughts when he wasn’t so near. She also saw clearly that it would not matter what she said. Words would be fruitless. “You want Roman back – fine! Ask him yourself. He’s free to do whatever he wants.”

Something about the way Donovan looked at her – smug, knowingly, superior – made her wince. “Did you know that your little partner has been turning profits? Do you realize what that’s going to do to Roman and Carrie Anne’s reputation?”

“Who told you that? It’s not true.”

“Are you really that dense?”

All thoughts of gaining composure in his presence were lost. “Get out. Get out of here!”

For once, when she was most desperate for him to, Donovan did not leave quickly. Instead he waited callously for his words to sink in. Way down deep. He almost looked regretful to have shocked her but said nothing else.

When he was gone, she enfolded her arms about her. Tears of sorrow spilled as she walked up to her room. She did not need to question Emmy. All the pieces were falling together now, piecing in like quilted seams. Luke, the sheriff, Josie, and now Donovan.

“What do you mean I can’t have my horse?” Emmy demanded to Philippe, who stood awkwardly, head down. “If you don’t give her to me I’ll have you fired.”

It was early in the morning and Aurora had not slept a wink that night. Exhausted, Aurora appeared fully in the doorway of the barn – heartbroken. “I told him not to give you the horse.”

“You did what?”

“Why don’t you stay home today? I could use some help.”

“I don’t want to stay. I don’t want to help.”

“Then come for a ride with me. I would love to spend time with you.”

Emmy glared at Philippe. “I’ll pay you to give me that horse.”

His eyes grew wide and Aurora gritted her teeth. “Go, Philippe.” He nodded gladly and quickly disappeared.

Aurora went nose to nose with Emmy. “Just where do you think you
were
going today?”

“I’m going to town, even if I have to walk.”

Aurora folded her arms. “Then you’ll be walking.”

“Fine!” Emmy turned and headed out the barn.

Aurora charged after Emmy. “Please don’t go.”

“I’m only spending time with Christopher. Surely you don’t mind that.”

“I honestly don’t know what you do. I only know that you’ve been at Thatcher’s. What I don’t understand is why.”

“I thought I could do whatever I wanted, whatever makes me happy.”

“I’ve heard things.”

Emmy bristled. “And?”

“Are they true?” Aurora was horrified. The only word she planned on hearing was “no.”

“It depends what you’ve heard, but I reckon that yes, it’s probably true.”

Aurora stepped back. “You’ve
sold
yourself?” Her question was barely audible. It hurt physically to let the words escape.

“It isn’t as if I was a virgin. Besides, I like money just as much as any regular folk does.”

Her words were so brash, so detached from their relationship and what it once was. Anger and the feeling of betrayal came to Aurora and she walked towards this girl who was stupid and selfish. “You lift your skirts for a few dollars? I could give you hundreds if that’s what it takes to make you happy.”

“How dare you judge me? You were once the prize attraction at Hazel’s. Why do you think I wanted to work there? I wanted everything
you
had.” Emmy slapped at the skin of her forearm. “But I got this instead. Only out here no one seems to notice my color. You’re just jealous because no one wants you anymore. It’s me they want.”

“They will use you and discard you. It’s the way it is.”

“No they won’t,” Emmy replied. “I’m going to make it work. I’m going to be the next Hazel Caruthers… only black. Wouldn’t that be somethin’?” she sneered. “A dirty old farm. That’s what you traded your life for. Why don’t you go and help that little twit Carrie Anne pull some onions?” She swept past Aurora with arrogance far too much for an eighteen-year-old to handle. “I’m getting my things, unless you object to that as well?”

Aurora surrendered, saying nothing.

She stood with Philippe near the well while Emmy was inside gathering her things. Philippe had in his hand the reins of the horse Aurora was giving to her friend. When Emmy emerged she accepted them as if she deserved the gift. At Aurora’s nod, Philippe attached her carpetbag behind the saddle and Emmy made eye contact with her. It was a challenging gaze, but also laced with some regret, however slight it was. Aurora wiped away her tears and said under her breath, “Good bye, Emmy.” She blamed herself for all of this. Why hadn’t she seen it?

“Anything I can do for you,
Senorita
?”

“Saddle my horse. I need to go for a ride.”

“
Si
,
Senorita
.”

The air whipped at Aurora’s face as she galloped along the land – her land. Aurora would not lose hope for Emmy. The girl was misguided. She’d misjudged the life of a prostitute and would only learn the hard way. Aurora thought of the levels of prostitution – her old circle, and the kind that Poe offered. Neither was a life for anyone. Madam Hazel’s was the best way to sell yourself, with fine dining and men of reputable stature. But Poe would let the devil himself come in if it meant a dollar to line his pocket. She would give Emmy time there, and pray… pray that she would come to her senses and return. The door would always be open. Aurora’s favorite spot, away from everything, came into view and she paced the mare to settle her from the gallop.