After a sleepless night where she tossed and turned trying to convince herself she had the power over her own destiny, the next day Nella stood at the back door of the brothel, heart stuttering, satchel in hand. A satchel filled with several lacy, pink corsets with matching bottoms going to her knees. An off-the-shoulder red, brocade dress showed more skin than even her mother had seen. She did enjoy the soft slippers she was given. The bag also included a rather pretty, scrolled hairbrush, some hairpins, rouge, lipstick, and hair ribbons.
The plan had been for her to show up right after the noon hour. The brothel wouldn’t be open and the girls would be awake. Anyway, they assumed Edda would be awake.
Today she wore the same blouse, skirt, and boots from yesterday. It wouldn’t be good to show up in her jeans and shirt. With shaking hands, she rapped on the door. When no one arrived, she knocked harder. After all, there was a large set of stairs for the sound to travel. After a few minutes, the door was thrown open. Edda Conrow. From all her research, she’d recognize the madam’s face anywhere. Nella locked her knees to keep from keeling over.
“Yeah? What d’ya want?”
“I’m new in town and heard you lost one of your girls. I’d like to take over her customers.”
Edda stared at her red hair, then slowly perused her down to her boots. “Ya would, would ya?”
Nella’s heart slammed in her chest. Surely the madame could hear it. Knew she was a fake. Knew she hadn’t any thoughts of ‘entertaining’ men.
“Well, get yerself up here where we can talk.”
The stairwell was not as wide as in the future. Dark, but with a hint of new wood. Of course, like everyone else in Deadwood, she would have had to rebuild after the fire. The main room was as large as in her time, but instead of a kitchen at one end, there was a bar lining a wall. Like before, brocade chairs, small couches, tables for cards, a roulette wheel, and pictures of nude women filled the room. Whomever had decorated the brothel in the future had been pretty darn accurate.
“Here,” Edda pointed to a chair at one of the round tables. “Let’s talk.”
Her nerves were so bad, she wasn’t sure she could remember the story they’d concocted last night or sit without missing the chair.
Edda lit what appeared to be a small cigar, took a puff, and blew the smoke into the air. Was that disdain in her exhale?
“Now, tell me about yerself. Where’d you come from? Who did you work for? Why are you in Deadwood?”
Last night they’d decided she had worked outside the area. Madams tended to know each other from town to town. Some even owned other places in different towns.
“I came from Minneapolis and worked for two years at Sarah Goodwin’s establishment. When I heard about the gold rush out here, I thought it was time for a change of scenery. Get some of the gold my way. Besides, Minnesota is nothing but dirty farmers.”
Edda chuckled. “And here you get nothing but dirty miners. Not much difference.”
“I guess not, but I needed a change of scenery.”
“And what do you think of our little town?”
“Other than the muddy streets, animals running rampant, and the men lounging around, I haven’t had much of a chance to look around. I came here right from the stage.”
Edda frowned. “I didn’t know the stage had arrived. I thought it was later this afternoon.”
Shoot. It was one thing they hadn’t thought of. “Actually, I came in on yesterday’s stagecoach and stayed at some place called King’s.”
“And they didn’t question you? Those snooty folks always think they are better than the rest of us.”
“No. No one said anything. Dressed like I am, I’m not sure they would know if I were an evening girl or not.”
“How did you get my name?”
“One of my clients has been to Deadwood and mentioned you.”
Edda raised an eyebrow. “And his name?”
Nella flipped a hand. “I don’t remember. There have been so many, you know.”
“Hey, Edda, who’s this one?” Three girls, all blondes came into the room, all wearing silk-type robes.
Nella held back a cough at the cigarettes they each smoked. The odor of perfume covering unwashed bodies was worse than the smoke. She swallowed past her gag reflex. How could people stand each other? But then, if everyone smelled, no one would notice. The women draped their bodies over various pieces of furniture.
“This little gal would like to replace Ruby.”
“Ruby? Why would you want to replace her? I can certainly take care of her men.”
“Now, Sophie Rose. You know I have to replace her. The more girls I have, the more men who frequent our doors, the more money we all make. Now, be quiet and sit down.”
“Is she gonna have Ruby’s room, too?” Another glare and a shrug. “I guess it’s all right with me. I wouldn’t want no room where someone was murdered.”
“Sophie Rose. One more time. Be quiet or go back to your room.”
Sophie Rose gave Nella a glare sending shivers down her spine. This might be one woman to stay clear of.
“Are ya gonna make her dye her hair like the rest of us?”
“Sophie, I told you to shut up. Since Ruby had red hair,” Edda lifted one of Nella’s curls. “I believe we’ll let Nella keep hers. Something different for our clientele.”
“Hmph.” Sophie Rose folded her arms over her ample chest. “Ya gonna call her Ruby, too?”
Guess Sophie Rose didn’t listen. Did she have some type of hold over Edda? Otherwise, why did she keep letting the girl interrupt?
“No.” Edda tapped a finger on her bottom lip. “I believe we’ll call her Scarlett. Has a sultrier tone to it. Suits her.”
Sultry? Never in her life had she been referred to as sultry. Tall. Thin. Boyish. But never sultry. Edda must be desperate.
Sophie Rose snorted. “Scarlett? That’s a laugh. Sultry? Even funnier.” She stuck out her chest. “Why, I can’t see any man wanting her scrawny body.”
And there it was. She frowned at Sophie Rose, but kept her mouth closed. Obviously, she’d already garnered the woman’s distaste. No sense in making it worse.
“I see you have your belongings with you. I’ll show you to your room. You’ll have two nights to acclimate yourself to my place of business before you start entertaining. Tomorrow night, you’ll spend time in the parlor so men can get a good look at you.”
Nella suppressed a shiver. She had a strong hunch she wouldn’t be serving tea and crumpets. She picked up her carpet bag and followed Edda.
“Hey, Scarlett.”
Nella stopped and looked over her shoulder. “What?”
“I’d watch my step if I were you. Some of the men in this town can be downright dangerous.” Sophie squinted her eyes. “You best be careful. You hear?”
Edda opened the door to Ruby’s—or now her room. She set her bag on the floor. The bed had been moved back against the wall. From what she could tell, all the blood had been cleaned up.
“Is this the room where Ruby was killed?”
“Yes.”
“Do they know who did it? I wouldn’t want the same to happen to me.”
“I believe they have someone in custody. I’m increasing my security during the working hours, though. Better screen who comes in here. The bouncers will check on the girls more often. We aren’t sure what time she was killed.” Edda shrugged as if the death of a young woman was no big deal. Or maybe it was her way of coming to grips with things.
“I’ll let you get settled. You’ll need to make the bed up. We washed everything to make sure there was no blood left behind.”
At the foot of the bed was a stack of graying sheets, a quilt, two pillows, and equally gray pillowcases. Were those the same sheets she’d used to climb out the window? The sheets she was going to have to tie together again so Adams could climb into the room? If it were in her time, the CSI would use their black lights and probably find more than blood splattered all over the place. How was she ever going to be able to sleep on that bed.? Even with clean sheets?
“Join us in half an hour. We’ll be having our meal. The doors open at four. I want you back in your room before then.” Edda closed the door behind her.
The clicking latch was as loud as a bullet ricocheting through the room. She was really and truly in an active brothel, not simply staying in one used as a B&B. She took a deep breath. This was definitely one of the scariest things she’d ever done. Putting her characters into precarious positions was entirely different than being in one herself. Hopefully, she’ll live through this, go back to her time, and use it in a story. Not knowing the policy of anyone coming into her room without permission, she placed a wooden chair beneath the lock.
Something hit the window. Deputy Adams said he’d be here around one. Having arrived at noon, and with the time she’d spent with Edda, it was probably one now. She pulled back the heavy drapes and pushed open the window.
“Psst. Throw down the sheets.”
Through her fear, she snickered. Why didn’t he say: Rapunzel, Rapunzel. Let down your hair. Good grief. She needed to get a grip. First Alice in Wonderland and now Rapunzel.
“Hold on. I have to tie them together.” She tossed the pillows and quilt aside, and as she’d done yesterday, knotted two ends together, tied another end to the end bed frame, and pushed the bed to the window. “Here.” She tossed the sheet out the window. Adams tugged on it making sure it was secure.
“Scarlett? Is everything all right in there? I thought I heard some noises.”
Great. “I’m fine, Edda. I just repositioned the bed to make it easier to make up.”
“All right. See you in a few minutes.”
Adams was halfway up the outside wall. “Hurry up,” she whispered.
“I’m going as fast as I can. Move the bed back so I can climb over the windowsill.”
Nella winced as the feet of the bed scraped across the floor. Hopefully, Edda would believe she was moving the bed back into place. She took Adams’ hand to help him inside. The tingle of her hand at his contact traveled through her. What was that? She’d written about a spark between characters before, but never once experienced it firsthand. Weirder and weirder.
He removed a bag from his back and dropped it on the floor. Hand-over-hand, Adams brought the sheets into the room and handed them to her. “Here. I’m going to close the window and pull the curtains.” As soon as he did, the room was enveloped in darkness.
Her throat closed. “Open the drapes. I can’t see enough to light a lamp.” Besides, she didn’t care for the dark. Based on past experiences, and except for the time before transporting to 1880, darkness was what bats liked the best. She sat on the edge of the bed. “Now what?” she whispered.
“Now, we wait.”
“For what?”
Adams shrugged. “For whatever happens.”
“You can’t stay in my room waiting for something that may or may not happen.”
“It’s my duty.”
A strong rap came at the door. “Scarlett. Get your scrawny ass out here. We’re ready to eat.” Great. It would have to be Sophie Rose.
“Quick! Get under the bed.”
He shook his head. “I’ll just hide behind the door for now.”
“Hey, Scar. Who ya talking to? Ya got someone in that room with you? I’m getting Edda.”
“Under the bed. Now.”
Nella kicked his bag after him. “Don’t breathe.” She removed the chair from beneath the door handle and opened the door. With Sophie Rose behind her, a smirk on her face, Edda stood with her arms akimbo.
“Sophie Rose said she heard you talking with someone. The rules are no men who haven’t come in here properly are to be in the rooms.”
Nella shook her head and gave Sophie Rose glare for glare. “I don’t have anyone in my room. I have a habit of talking to myself.” She sent Sophie Rose another scowl. “I find they are the best conversations.” She swept her hand at the room. “Go ahead and check. I’m not sure how you think someone could have gotten in here, anyway.”
Sophie Rose snorted and stomped off. She certainly was one person to keep an eye on.
“Never mind. Come join us and meet the other girls.”
* * *
“Did you learn anything?” Adams lay on the floor, hands tucked beneath his head. He rolled to his side and propped his head in his hand when she entered the room and locked the door.
Nella sat on the edge of the windowsill and looked down at him. “I don’t know how these women do it. They talk like it’s no big deal to fulfill the needs of men, but I can see it in their eyes. I’m sure most of them are on drugs of some kind.”
“It wouldn’t be surprising. They have to have some way of surviving. I wouldn’t wish their work on my worst enemy.” He sat up and leaned against the bed. “Anything to help us?”
“Not so far. I met the girls. Besides Edda and me, there are eight of them. Then the guy they called Jack came in. He is one huge guy. Said he was the bouncer, but there’s something off about him.”
“Yeah. I met him the night of the murder. I don’t believe his name is Jack, nor that he is a bouncer. I have a feeling he may have something to do with Ruby’s death. He was also the one who watched you run off.”
“He did give me a strange look, but there is no way he could recognize me.”
Adams nodded at her. “Unless he managed to get a look at your hair. We don’t see that color often around these parts.”
“I had it in a braid and my hat on. I’m sure it would have been difficult to see.” She shrugged. “Maybe he was wondering if I would be able to replace Ruby. Every time someone mentioned her name, his face grew white.”
“Maybe he was in love with her.”
“Do men fall in love with prostitutes?”
Adams brought a knee up to his chest and rested his wrist across his knee. “Stranger things have happened. Sometimes men, and I say foolish men, equate sex with love.”
“Women, too.”
After a moment of silence, Stuart glanced up at her. “I have to ask you something.”
“Sure. I’m not sure I’ll answer, but fire away.”
“Yesterday you said you came from the future. Everyone else seemed to take your words at face value, but I’m not so gullible. Where are you really from?”
Nella clasped her hands in her lap. And here she’d thought she’d gotten away with something. “I’m from Wisconsin in the year 2024.” When he opened his mouth to protest, she held up a hand. “I know. I know. Sounds like a crazy story, doesn’t it? But it’s the truth. I came to Deadwood for an annual event called Wild Bill Days. I’m an author. We have a big author signing each year.”
“Wait. Wild Bill Days. Like Wild Bill Hickock?”
“Yes. It’s a big celebration.”
“You mean to tell me they celebrate a man’s murder? A man who’d only been in Deadwood a few weeks before being shot? Ridiculous.”
“Brings in tourists and a lot of money to Deadwood.”
“I can’t imagine more people in this town wandering the muddy streets. People with guns, shooting each other.”
“Well, things have changed a bit. They don’t carry guns, anyway most of them don’t. The streets and sidewalks are paved, so there is no mud to wallow through.”
“Let’s say I believe you.”
Nella opened her mouth to protest. “I . . .”
“Wait. I believe you didn’t kill Ruby, but I have a hard time believing the rest of the stuff you’re spouting. How did you get in the room?”
“I already told you. The story isn’t going to change in the retelling.”
Stuart sighed. “All right. Before I ask you more about the future, I want to know what the sheriff, the Iversons, and the Winsons were saying about you creating them.”
How did one explain this? “I already said I am an author. A writer. I write mysteries. It seems not only have I been transported back in time, but to the time of my books. The people you mentioned, the Iversons, Winsons, and the sheriff are all characters I made up. Don’t ask me how or why, but it’s the truth. Now all I want to do is get back to my time.”
“You don’t care for the time you made up?”
“I didn’t say I made up this time in Deadwood, just some of the people and stories. Don’t worry, you’re not a character in one of my books.” Anyway, she didn’t think he was or would be.
“This is crazy.”
“Tell me about it.”
While they were talking, the noise outside her room increased. “Sounds as if they’ve opened the doors.” What was she going to do during the long hours she had to wait in the room? She doubted anyone would bring her supper. She didn’t have anything to write with. No book to read.
All she had was the handsome man sitting on the floor. If this was one of her stories, she might be crazy enough to have them attracted to each other. Maybe have a little fun to pass the time.
Stuart opened his bag. “Cards?”
The thought of kissing him was fleeting. No way, no how was she going to kiss a man who essentially was old. Very old. Old. Old. Old. Like several times over great-grandfather old. “Poker?”
“Is there any other game?” He dealt them five cards each.
“I’ll take two.”
“The dealer takes three.”
As the night wore on, he asked more and more questions about the future. Some she decided to skim over. After all, she didn’t know Stuart. Maybe she’d tell him something to change the future. She couldn’t take the chance. So, she stuck with the basic improvements.
Along with a bottle of weak wine, they’d eaten the sandwiches he dug from his pack, and later a couple of sugar cookies he’d said Suzanna had made.
After losing more games than she won, she tried to stifle a yawn. “What time is it?”
He pulled a pocket watch out from his vest. “Nearly midnight.”
“I need to get some sleep.”
“You’ll be able to sleep with all the noise going on?”
He had a point. Giggling. High-pitched laughed. Men’s deep guffaws. With her room being in a far corner, at least they couldn’t hear any of the more vigorous activities.
“I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Nella eyed the bed and winced. Even though the bedding had supposedly been washed, thoughts of bedbugs, bodily fluids, and bats crossed her mind. She removed her boots but left her clothes on as additional layer of protection. Thinking about possible fleas, her head already itched. But at least she wasn’t sleeping in an old, abandoned building.
Before she’d wrapped the quilt around her, snores came from the floor. If only she could fall asleep as fast. Plus, the damn corset was digging into her ribs. She should have had Stuart loosen the ties for her. That would have been interesting. As a gentleman, he probably would have refused.
With thoughts of what tomorrow would bring, she rolled over trying to find a comfortable position. Even though she wouldn’t have to entertain any men in her room, the idea of them gawking at her made her stomach roll. They’d better find out who killed Ruby before she had to perform her duties.
After a particularly loud snort, Stuart finally quieted down. She finally fell into a fitful sleep swearing at the tight corset digging into her ribs.
* * *
“Miss Cambien. Nella. Wake up.”
Nella swatted at the hands jiggling her. “Leave me alone. Let me sleep.”
“You have to wake up. I need to get out of here before it gets light.”
She opened her eyes. Brothel. Bats. Murder. Ruby. It all came back in a rush. “All right.” Sighing she rolled over the side of the mattress. “I’ll tie the sheets, but at this rate, they’re not going to last very much longer. I can almost see you through them.”
“I’ll bring a rope with me when I come back here later.”
With everything he had taken from his bottomless satchel, it was surprising he didn’t have a fifty-foot length of rope in there. “Good idea.”
Once he was gone, she crawled back into bed and managed to get several more hours of sleep before nature called. Since it was light outside, it probably would be a good idea to get ready for the day. Whatever that would be.
She changed from yesterday’s wrinkled clothes into another blouse and skirt, tried to subdue her curls into a semblance of order, and ate a sandwich left over from last night. When did the girls get a chance to eat? Even though she was confined to her room, one would think someone would have brought her something to fill her stomach. Did they get food only once a day?
“Hey, Scarlett. Get out here.”
Nella dropped her brush on the dresser and opened the door. At least it wasn’t Sophie Rose glaring at her. The girl was dressed in nothing more than white stockings attached to a garter belt and a pink, silk robe. Her hair was a mess, and, she had obviously not removed her makeup from last night.
“It’s time for breakfast and for you to get geared up for tonight.”
Nella followed the girl into the main living area. The air was still hazy, and the room reeked of cigars, booze, and bodies. She sniffed the air. Was she crazy or was that a tempting aroma of cooking bacon? Empty glasses, half-filled bottles, ashtrays filled to the brim littered every surface. If the girls didn’t die from a venereal disease, they’d certainly would from lung or liver cancer.
“Ooh. Look how fancy the new girl is.” A plump girl slouched in a chair, swinging her leg over the arm. “Hey, Scarlett. Why don’t ya clean up this mess.” She eyed her fingernails. “It’s my turn, but I don’t want to. What’d’ya say, girls? We let Scarlett clean up?”
She wasn’t about to let them see her irritation. “Why, I’d love to clean up this mess. I live to clean up after you. First things first.” She walked across the sticky floor, pulled back the drapes, and pushed open the windows. She swore the room sighed in relief at the fresh air.
“Hey. Watcha doin’ that for?” Sophie Rose came up behind her. “We don’t like those windows open.”
“Well. Since I’m doing the cleaning, I’m opening them.” She slapped her hands at her waist and, with a scowl, dared Sophie Rose to argue. Thankfully, the woman shrugged and poured herself some coffee from a pot on a pot-bellied stove Nella hadn’t noticed the day before.
Someone had pulled away a tall screen revealing a cookstove, ice box, sink, and a cupboard filled with dishes, pots, and pans. Surprisingly, it was Edda at the stove, a frilly apron around her waist, cooking up a skillet of scrambled eggs and bacon.
Edda peered over her shoulder. “I know this doesn’t seem like something a woman like me would do, but I love to cook for my girls. And,” she sent a look around the room, “they, in return, love to clean up.” She stabbed a fork in the air. “Get to work. You’re not passing your chores to the new girl. She’ll take over Ruby’s jobs.”
“Which is?”
Sophie Rose smirked and held up a large bucket, with chips of white paint revealing the black beneath it. “Why, I believe it was her job today to clean out the slop buckets. When it’s full, you take it outside and dump it on the hill.”
Seriously? She had to empty chamber pots? Nella yanked the pot from Sophie Rose’s hand.
“Wait until we’re done eating. Ladies, grab your plates and line up.”
As with any new kid on the block, she was shoved to the end of the line. By the time she got to the stove, there was only a spoonful of eggs and one piece of bacon. Good thing she’d had the sandwich.
And after a half an hour of emptying pots and trying to ignore her gag reflexes, she was glad she hadn’t eaten more. She unlocked the door at the bottom of the stairwell and sucked in a breath of fresh air, or as fresh as one reeking of animal and human offal could be.
A narrow, tallish building with a moon cut out on the door stood to her right. Why was she told to dump this bucket on the hillside when there was an outhouse right outside the back door? She set the bucket down, unhooked the latch, and gagged at the horrible odor. Hadn’t anyone ever emptied the refuse?
She slammed the door closed and re-latched it. Against her better judgement and, swearing not to drink any water while in Deadwood, dumped the bucket’s contents behind the stump of a burned-out tree.
The idea of going back upstairs didn’t sit well with her. The temptation to run and hide was so strong, she took several steps down the back street.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
A large, beefy hand grasped her upper arm. Darn. Busted. Jack loomed over her. “Nowhere. I needed a breath of fresh air.”
He jerked her back to the brothel. “Pick up the bucket. No one leaves without Edda’s permission.” He pushed her through the door.
Somehow she pictured this man doing harm to the women if they disobeyed Edda. Had he been the one to kill Ruby? Maybe by accident? Or had she done something to make him so mad, he struck her hard enough to end her life?
At the top of the stairs, he pushed her into the main room. “I got her. She was ready to take a breath of fresh air.”
Edda leaned against the sink. “Breath of fresh air, huh? You haven’t even been here one day and you’re already wanting to take off?”
“I’m telling the truth. I have no intention of leaving. It’s such a beautiful day. I wanted to enjoy a brief moment of it.” Please let her believe me. “It’s the truth. I have nowhere else to go. Besides, all my belongings are here. If I were to leave, wouldn’t I take them with me?”
“I suppose that’s true. Just don’t try it again.”
Sophie Rose smirked. “I told ya she’d be trouble. Just like Ruby.”
Wait? Ruby was trouble? Dare she ask what she’d done? “Why was Ruby trouble?”
“Takin’ the best men. Thinkin’ she was better’n the rest of us. Flauntin’ her red hair, jest like you’re doin.’ Right, girls?”
Several of the other ladies nodded. Three in particular glared at Sophie Rose behind her back. So, not everyone felt the same way Sophie Rose did. Interesting.
“I don’t think I’m better than you or anyone else. I don’t plan on taking the best men. At my last place, the men chose us, and we didn’t have a choice but to go with them.”
“Yeah. So, you say. Just don’ be pushin’ out your scrawny chest or flippin’ your red hair to entice them or there’ll be trouble.”
Since she had no intention of getting so far in this place, it wasn’t going to be a problem. Besides, she may not be the most well-endowed woman on the planet, but she certainly wasn’t scrawny. It was time to move on.
“Is there anything else you’d like me to do, Edda?”
Sophie Rose jumped to her feet. “See. There she goes. Suckin’ up to Edda.”
“I wasn’t— Never mind. I’m going to my room.”
“Not so fast, Scarlett. We need to get you ready for tonight.” She nodded to one of the girls who hadn’t agreed with Sophie Rose. “Minnie, follow her and see what clothes she brought with her. Daisy, find Ruby’s clothes and bring them out here.”
Sophie Rose let out a screech. “But Ruby’s things are mine.”
Even though Edda was a good head shorter than her, Sophie Rose shrank back when Edda stood before her and poked her in the chest. “No one gave you permission to take Ruby’s things. They are not yours. They belong to me. Now get them. I know what Ruby had, so don’t even think about keeping any of them.”
Nella followed Minnie into her room. “That was interesting. I take it Edda and Sophie Rose don’t get along.”
“No one gets along with that woman. She’s been a pain in all our sides since she got here. Thinking because she came from Chicago, she is better than the rest of us.” Minnie picked up the dance hall dress Nella had spread out on the bed. “She’s nothing but a prostitute like the rest of us. You watch your step around her.” She eyed the low-neck, off the shoulder, red and black dress. “Pretty fancy. Is this what you wore at your last place?”
“Yes. It was a dance hall, too, so we had to perform.”
“Well, I can tell you right now, this won’t work here.” Carrying the dress over her arm, she left the room.
“That’s probably the last time I’ll see it.” Not that she ever intended to wear it, but it was still better than those robes the girls wore.
* * *
The afternoon wore on. Ruby’s clothes were too small for her, so, except for Sophie Rose who pouted in a corner chair, the girls scrambled to find something to fit. She had to admit, even though they were preparing her to meet and greet gawking men, it was rather fun. A bit like a slumber party. Giggling. Storytelling. Sharing their lives before ending up where they were. So many tragic stories.
Nella kept an eye on the grandfather clock ticking away the minutes. She needed to get back to her room for when Stuart came back. Since she hadn’t slept much last night, she didn’t need to pretend to yawn.
Edda clapped her hands. “Time to rest until we open. Get back to your rooms. It’s the weekend, so we’ll be busy with those miners coming to do their weekly shopping.”
As she walked across the room, she couldn’t miss Sophie Rose and Jack talking and looking at her. It had bothered her to have the man in the room as she’d undressed and tried on different robes. With his hat low over his eyes, it was difficult to see his expression, but the man gave her the creeps.
Nella closed her bedroom door, locked it, and propped the chair under the handle. A nap would be wonderful, but she needed to stay awake to listen for Stuart. Instead of lying on the bed, she waited on the windowsill until something tapped at the glass. She pushed open the window. Stuart stood below, his bag over his shoulders. After repeating the drill of the sheets, his head appeared, followed by his torso and legs.
“No one saw you, did they?”
“No. I made sure.” He rolled his shoulders and winced. “I’ll be glad when this is over. Pulling myself up makes my arms hurt.”
She’d have more sympathy for him, except he wasn’t the one who was going to parade her half-nude body in front of strangers.
“I brought a rope with me this time.”
“Well, hopefully, we can catch the culprit tonight.”
“Any leads?”
Nella relayed the events of the day. “If I had my guesses, it would be Sophie Rose who killed Ruby. The woman is so jealous, she probably hates her reflection in the mirror.”
“Seems rather obvious, doesn’t it?”
“That’s what I thought. But I don’t know who else could have done it.” Nella sat on the edge of the bed and yawned. “I need to take a nap if I’m going to make it through the night.”
“You go ahead and sleep. I’ll keep watch.”
* * *
Stuart sat on a chair by the window, making sure to keep out of sight, but still able to watch for movements down below. After a moment, Jack appeared, looking both ways down the street, before staring up at Nella’s window. Stuart didn’t dare peer out the window. What was Jack doing? Why was he focusing on Nella’s window?
After a few seconds, the back door opened and closed. Had someone seen him or was Jack trying to decide how to get into the room? But then, from what Stuart knew, men like Jack didn’t sneak into rooms, they simply entered without questions.
As he turned his attention to the woman on the bed, something caught his eye. There, below the sill. Was that a scratch? He knelt on the floor and ran a finger over it. An indentation similar to a hook. Had someone climbed into the room using a grappling hook? The murderer? Was that what Jack was investigating? Or was he deciding to get into the room again?
There was nothing he could do about it, so he sat back in the chair and returned to thinking about Nella. Strange person. Did he truly believe she’d come back from the future? More so, did she believe it, or should they cart her away someplace where she couldn’t hurt anyone?
Surprisingly, his friends did. But he was more skeptical. Especially the part about them being characters in some books Nella wrote.
Admittedly, she was an attractive woman. Even dressed in men’s clothing, dirty, and tired, she struck a chord within him. Then, when she showed up dressed as a lady, his heart nearly left his chest.
And, after spending time with her last night, he realized she was smart and funny, too. All those stories about things flying in the air. Vehicles moving without horses. Moving pictures. Telephones you carry in your hands. She’d pointedly left out his questions about more wars, which probably meant there would be.
The temptation to join her on the bed was more than the floor being hard. For some reason, he wanted to wrap her in his arms. Protect her. Kiss her. And . . .
Nella snuffled in her sleep. Having her greet men scantily clad went against everything he felt about women. If there were a way to stop prostitution, he’d be first in line to stop it. But where there were a lot of men, too few women, and unscrupulous men and women who prey on the weak, it was bound to happen.
“What time is it?” Nella leaned up on an elbow and squinted.
He bit back a laugh at her hair flying every which way reminding him of a wild orangutan he’d seen in a book. “Four thirty.”
She swung her legs over the side of the bed revealing a pair of shapely calves and slender ankles. He averted his eyes. No gentleman would ogle a woman’s bare body parts.
“I guess they will be opening soon. I need to get changed.”
As she passed by, he took her arm. “You don’t have to do this, you know.”
“I do. I have a feeling I won’t return to my time until Ruby’s murder is solved. It has to be the reason why I was sent here.” She patted his hand. “Edda said I’ll only be introduced tonight. Give the men something new to come back to.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Neither do I, but it’s the only way.”
He let go of her hand. “I could leave and come back as a customer.”
Nella shook her head. “No. You’ve never been here before, have you?”
Was that a hopeful look in her eyes? If he said yes, would she be disappointed? “The only time I’ve been up here was when Ruby was found. Otherwise, I don’t frequent the brothels.”
Her smile made his heart hitch. “Good to hear. But since they’ve only seen you here as an officer of the law, wouldn’t it raise questions? Wouldn’t Jack want to know why you’re here tonight?”
“You’re right. But I’ll be here in case something goes wrong.”
When Nella stepped behind the screen, he let his mind wander to places it shouldn’t. Was her skin soft? Was her backside as rounded as it looked, or was she wearing one of those stupid bustle things? Was it a corset making her waist look so tiny?
“Uh, Stuart?”
“Yes?”
“I need some help.”
He gulped. “With what?” Please don’t let her need help with her corset.
“I can’t get my corset untied.”
H swallowed around the lump in his throat. “You what?” Had his voice really come out sounding like a schoolboy?
“My corset. I’m not supposed to wear it tonight. I can’t undo it.”
“I . . . Uh . . .”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. Just get over here. I’ll have my back to you. All you have to do is reach for the strings and untie them.”
“I . . . Uh . . . Um . . .”
“I guess I’ll ask Jack.”
Stuart jumped to his feet. “All right. I’m coming.” He tried not to look. Truly he did. But how could he untie the strings if he couldn’t see them? She had her hair lifted in the air revealing a long, silky, sexy neck, just begging for his kisses.
Trying desperately not to touch her backside, which definitely was her own, he found the end of one ribbon and tugged. Nothing happened. He pulled again.
“I think the strings knotted.”
“Well, then unknot them.”
How could his mouth be so dry at the same time he was sweating? “All right.” He couldn’t avoid touching her warm back, the top of her luscious backside. He was getting . . . Well . . . he understood why men wanted to ravish women. He held his breath, and, with fumbling fingers, managed to untie the knot. Before the strings were loose, he was back in the chair, taking deep breaths, trying to get his mind from her body and on to something less savory. Like Ruby’s murder. The cattle rustling going on the in the area. Illegal booze. Maybe just counting the metal tiles in the ceiling.
An audible sigh came from behind the screen. It sounded as if she muttered something about damn corsets being worse than bras. Didn’t women like wearing corsets? And what was a bra?
He opened his eyes when she closed the screen. If he’d thought his mouth had been dry before, it was a desert now. A desert with no water for hundreds of miles. The red, silk robe she wore only came to her shapely knees. The tie around her waist accentuated her rounded hips. She held the top of the robe closed as if protecting herself. Her hair fell in soft curls over her shoulders. One side was held back with a red bow. What man in his right mind wouldn’t want to spend time with her? He sure as hell did.
“Um. Do I look all right?” Her cheeks reddened. “I mean. I don’t want to look all right, but I do. Doesn’t make sense, does it?”
It didn’t, but then he didn’t understand woman in the least. His sisters were always saying nonsensical things to him. He simply ignored them, but ignoring Nella would be entirely different and difficult. “You are beautiful. I’m glad no man can be with you tonight.”
“Good heavens, me too. I hope I don’t have to put up with any groping. Edda said I only have to sit in a chair and look enticing. I guess the look, don’t touch scenario is meant to increase men’s interest.”
If he were in the room, he would break every rule Edda had, but he wasn’t about to tell Nella. For one thing, if he tried to speak, the words would get all jumbled up and he’d sound like he was a toddler learning to talk. A rambling, babbling, incoherent baby.
“Scarlett, it’s time.”
Her sigh was deep enough to wisp across his face. “Good luck.”
“Thanks, I’m going to need it.”