Chapter Sixteen

 

It was a beautiful night when she got back into Dallas. But it was late and most businesses were closed, and the hotels were full up too. Riley didn’t feel much like walking all over town to find a place to stay.

She took her horse over to the livery stable and bedded him down and told Friend to stay with him. Friend didn’t seem to mind since he cuddled up in the hay and was about to go to sleep. She curried her horse and informed the blacksmith she’d tend to him daily.

An hour later, as she knocked on the familiar door, she almost shook she was so afraid of what she was about to do. Would everyone think her crazy?

Nannette answered, eyeing her up and down. “Riley?” she finally asked, her voice unbelieving.

Riley barely noticed that Nanette’s peach colored gown was completely see-through. Riley had learned quickly to look beyond the physical. It hadn’t taken her long to get used to the way they dressed and not react to it. But it did make her want to cover herself more, as though they too could see her.

“Yes…it’s me,” Riley replied.

“Well, what are you doing back here?” Nannette asked, looking about and closing her arms over herself. “And where’s Sam?”

“Sam’s gone. Can I come in?”

Nanette shrugged. “I guess so.”

Riley noted that the lack of Sam being with her sent the light right out of Nannette’s eyes.

Some of the girls recognized her that passed in the hallway. Then Miss Tilda spotted her.

“Riley Morgan, what in heaven’s name are you doing here?”

Riley fidgeted for a moment, and then she squared her shoulders and looked Miss Tilda in the eye. “I got a proposition for you, Miss Tilda.”

“Do tell, sounds mysterious. Okay, come along to the veranda and we’ll discuss it.” The older woman smiled, taking her arm. “It’s good to see you. How are you and that handsome man of yours?”

Riley bowed up. “He isn’t my man.”

“No?”

“No.”

“But I thought you loved him.”

“I do, but he don’t. End of story,” Riley insisted as they found a couple of rockers on the porch and sat down. The night was full of crickets chirping, and somewhere off in the distance someone was playing a fiddle. There was a gentle breeze and it made it more comfortable as Riley sank into the rocker and glanced at Miss Tilda.

“That’s too bad. Did you get your ranch and money back?” Miss Tilda asked.

“Yes ma’am, I did.” Riley nodded. “All of it.”

“I’m so glad.”

“But…I’ve had another idea and I wanted to approach you with it,” Riley began.

“Oh…”

“It’s gonna sound a little crazy to ya. I’m sure. I was gonna sell the ranch, but for some reason I changed my mind as I was headed back. I got another idea.” She smiled at Miss Tilda. “It’s pretty crazy.”

Miss Tilda smiled back. “Why am I not surprised. Well, go ahead and spill it. I’m in a listening mood.”

Riley rocked for a moment then turned all her attention to the older woman. “Let me ask you something first. Do you like it here?”

“Here?” The older woman shrugged. “I don’t know. Never thought about how much I liked or didn’t like it. Places like this, we can’t be too choosey. We try to make it as pleasant as we can but the neighborhood is what it is. Why?”

“‘Cause during my travels, I heard a few conversations about bordellos. I had stayed at the hotel and had eaten out of course and during the time I had heard a lot of conversations that probably weren’t supposed to be heard. Actually, while I was waitin’ in the lawyer’s office. How they were thinking on redistricting the area, which meant you’d be moved to the other side of town which is more unsavory.”

Miss Tilda stared. “I’ve heard that rumor too. And I have to admit I’m not wild about that part of the town myself. Our…work, if you will, has its ups and downs and being moved ever so often happens as the big whigs of this part of town try to change things.”

“I’ve got an idea that could solve all your problems.” Riley smiled.

“Of course you do, so don’t hesitate to tell me. What is it?” Miss Tilda bellowed.

“You could come and run your business from my ranch.” Riley sighed as though she’d solved the world’s biggest problem.

“Your ranch?” Miss Tilda frowned then stared unbelievingly at her.

“But honey, that’s your home. You don’t want a bunch of rangy men and women hanging out there, do ya?”

“I’ve thought about it for several days and it would be perfect. It’s private and no law for miles about. We could get word to ranchers and locals. Even put an ad in the paper if you wanted to.”

Miss Tilda stared wide-eyed at her for a second. “You’re plum serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes ma’am, I am.”

“But darlin’, we’re whores and you’re not.”

Riley sighed heavily and leaned back in the rocker. “That’s true. But I know for a fact I get mighty lonely out there with no females within a hundred miles to talk to. No one to help with the chores; and it’s a big house, got seven bedrooms, three wash-up rooms, big kitchen and a fancy parlor. Oh I know it isn’t all reds and golds, but we could fix it up in no time. What do you think?”

“No law for miles?” Miss Tilda shot her a glance and smile.

“At least a hundred miles. And I know all the ranchers…”

“And their wives?” Miss Tilda finished for her.

“Yeah, but most of them are older and got more sons than anything, and not all of them are married.”

Miss Tilda pulled herself up and stared hard once more. “Why? I gotta ask you that, ‘cause frankly I don’t understand what you’d get out of it.”

“I’m lonely without Sam…and I so want to learn how to be a real lady. I don’t have any idea where to start.”

“Aw…honey, I’m so sorry for being insensitive to you about Sam. Sure you miss him, but someone will come along eventually.”

“Well, this way, if they don’t, I’ll have plenty of company around me.” She laughed.

“Can we legally do it?” Miss Tilda asked after thinking on it a minute.

“I’ll find out, but I wanted to ask you about it before I go storming the lawyer about the matter,” Riley explained.

“I’m interested. I surely am. Go to the lawyer tomorrow and let me know what he says. Where are you staying?”

Riley firmed her lips. “I hate to admit it, but I haven’t got a place for the night. Think you could rig me something out here on the porch or something?”

“I can do better than that; I’ll give you a room.” Miss Tilda patted her hand. “Come on, where’s your dog anyway?”

“How’d you know I had one?”

“It was with Sam when he came.”

“Oh…well, that was his dog, Nodog. My dog’s name is Friend. He’s down at the livery stable for the night.”

“Fine, you can go get him tomorrow.”

Riley looked at her. “Looking like I do, I hate to go into a hotel and try to keep up a charade.”

“Well, at least you got the clothes and haircut. You can pull it off a little longer with the lawyer.”

“You won’t have to keep up a charade here.” Miss Tilda smiled. “Come with me, we’ll fix you a room up and you can get some sleep. Tomorrow, you go in and talk to that lawyer and then we’ll talk about rent and charges. I really can’t believe you are wanting to do this.”

“I spent the whole trip back thinking on it. They’ll be building towns up before long out that way. And if you want to move into town eventually then I’d understand, but who knows you might like the country.” Riley sighed as Miss Tilda threw an arm around her and guided her up the stairs.

Riley slept well that night.