Chapter 6
Tempest waited at the top of the stairs. She didn’t understand the sudden turn of events. How could she have gone from being the most unpopular woman in the Bend to the most popular? Did she really fit in here, as Lucky suggested? Maybe here on the edge of Texas where everything was changing, there was more leeway for people to follow their hearts.
“Last door on the left.” Lucky pointed as he joined her. “Guess I’m in the room next to you. There are only four other choices anyway.”
“What about a key?”
“There aren’t any.”
“I won’t be comfortable with an unlocked door.”
“Doubt Saul gets many ladies here. You can wedge the top of a chair under the doorknob.”
“I suppose that will do.” She headed down the hall with him on her heels. “I’d still like to give back your room.”
“Leave it be.”
At the end of the hall, she opened the door to Number Six and stepped inside. Light filtered in through sheer lace curtains over a single window. A white iron bed frame with a colorful quilt on the double bed, a washstand with a white pitcher and matching bowl filled with water, a dresser, a rocking chair, and a small table with a lace tablecloth and two matching chairs filled the room.
“What’s on the table?” Lucky walked inside.
“I don’t know.” She followed him, leaving the door open.
“I can’t believe this!” He looked back at her. “You’ve got a basketful of goodies.”
“What?” She hurried up beside him. She tossed open the blue-and-white-check napkin inside the basket and found muffins. The scent of fresh baked goods filled the room.
Lucky grabbed a muffin and took a big bite. “Tastes like Mama Lou’s Molasses Muffins. Nothing’s better.”
Tempest tried a muffin, too. She moaned in delight at the delicious flavors of sugar, molasses, spices, and pecans. She hadn’t been able to afford such luxury in a year and wished she could share with Elmira and Lamira.
“What’s on the rocking chair?” Lucky finished off the muffin as he walked over to the furniture. He picked up the fabric, shook it out, and then chuckled. “I’d like to see you wear this.”
Tempest blushed at the sight of a white nightgown trimmed with lilac lace and ribbons. She plucked it out of his hands. She looked at the garment, feeling amazement wash over her. It was store bought. She’d been mending clothes for so long that she’d almost forgotten the luxury of new items. Yet she also felt confused and uncomfortable.
“Another gift?” he asked.
“There must be a mistake.”
“I can guarantee that isn’t mine and wasn’t here before.” He pulled back the quilt on the bed, felt the sheets, and nodded his head. “You’ve got clean sheets, too. Saul had help.”
“But why?”
“Let’s look in the dresser.” He pulled open a drawer, then motioned with his head for her to join him. “See anything you like?”
She reverently touched a white blouse and a forest green skirt. Again, brand new. She blinked to see past the mist that was threatening to turn into tears of happiness. Surely folks in the Bend couldn’t afford to be so generous with a stranger, especially one who had caused trouble. She didn’t want to feel petty or ungrateful, but why?
She slowly shut the drawer, closing the beautiful clothes out of sight. “Of course, I can’t accept any of this.”
“Why not?”
She walked away from him, lifted the nightgown, and sat down in the rocker. As she looked around the room, she stroked the soft fabric. “I didn’t earn it. I have no way to repay.”
“I don’t know any more about this than you do, but I suspect we’ll find out.” He picked up one of the chairs from the table, turned it around, and sat down with his arms across the back. “Why look a gift horse in the mouth?”
“Because it might bite.”
“True enough.”
As she contemplated her sudden change in fortune, she heard women’s voices and laughter in the hall. She looked at Lucky and echoed his earlier question. “Friends of yours?”
He chuckled. “I’d never turn down a lady’s friendship.”
A woman peeked in the doorway, saw Lucky, and pointed at him. “You scoundrel! What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you.” He stood up and held out a hand to Tempest. “Mama Lou, may I introduce Temperance Tempest.”
“Delighted, I’m sure.” Mama Lou stepped into the room followed by two other ladies. “Meet my friends. Diana is carrying the tray of food and Ludmila is carrying the coffeepot.”
“Thank you.” Tempest stood up, polite but wary. “I’m pleased to meet all of you.”
“Don’t want you to get peckish.” Mama Lou walked over and hugged Tempest, enveloping her in the scent of rosewater, cinnamon, and sugar. “My, you are pretty as a picture, aren’t you?”
“Not as pretty as those muffins.”
Mama Lou laughed. “You could be right. I do bake pretty.”
“If you’re responsible for the basket of goodies, thank you. They’re delicious.”
“Think nothing of it,” Mama Lou said.
“That smells wonderful.” Tempest watched as Diana and Ludmila set down the tray and coffeepot.
“Hope it’s enough to keep you going till breakfast,” Mama Lou said.
“Wait till you taste her bacon, eggs, and biscuits.” Lucky rubbed his stomach.
Mama Lou smiled. “Does that mean I’ll see you down at the café?”
“Bright and early,” Lucky said.
“We’ll put on extra just for you.” Mama Lou gave him a wink.
While they bantered, Tempest studied the other women. Mama Lou was short and plump with sandy hair pulled back in a chignon and a mischievous glint in her eyes. Diana was a tall, willowy, strawberry blonde with pale skin and big, chocolate, almond-shaped eyes. Ludmila was statuesque with blue eyes and thick blond hair.
“Diana works at my café,” Mama Lou said. “Ludmila owns and runs Adler Emporium, the best dry goods store in this part of Texas. As most folks around here know, she’s from Fredericksburg.”
“Ja,” Ludmila agreed. “I am a Texikaner.”
“A what?” Tempest asked.
“German-Texan. In 1846, Prince Frederick of Prussia founded our town. Germans signed a peace treaty with the Comanche. Soon over fifty thousand settled in the Hill Country. We still speak German in our homes.”
“I had no idea,” Tempest said.
“Our people prosper and keep to the old ways.” Ludmila sighed. “It is a good life, for the most part. Yet women are still limited to the Three K’s. Kinder. Küche. Kirche.”
“What does that mean?” Tempest asked.
“Children. Kitchen. Church.”
“It can be a fine world,” Mama Lou said.
“True,” Diana agreed. “I only wish life was that simple.”
“Ja.” Ludmila chuckled. “Perhaps we should assign men the Two W’s. Wife. Work. And nothing else.”
“Quite a few have already chosen their Three W’s. Whiskey. Women. Wagers,” Mama Lou said.
“Ladies.” Lucky put a hand over his heart. “I always put women before work, whiskey, or wagers.”
“You men want it all.” Mama Lou shook her finger at him.
“And they get it, too,” Diana said.
“Not always.” Lucky glanced around the group, and then grinned, revealing his dimple. “But they give it a good try.”
As Tempest chuckled with the others, she thought of Haig, her missing groom, and the Three W’s. She could laugh on the outside, but inside she still hurt. She clenched her fists and realized that she was holding the nightgown. She held it out to Ludmila. “Thank you. This is lovely, but I can’t accept it.”
“Why not? Freely given, freely taken, I always say.”
“But—”
“I’m sure the temperance ladies meant well,” Diana said, “but perhaps they didn’t think through the consequences of their actions.”
“They didn’t appear to leave you with a carpetbag. A lady must at least have a nightgown and a change of clothes,” Mama Lou said.
“Besides,” Ludmila added, “another color will do wonders for your complexion.”
“Our things were shipped ahead on the train.” Tempest didn’t add that she hadn’t traveled with much more than the black clothes on her back. If she never retrieved the small bag with a well-worn change of underclothes and nightgown, she wouldn’t lose much. Fortunately, she wore a chatelaine purse clipped to the waistband of her skirt that held her essentials such as comb, powder, handkerchief, and change purse.
Lucky coughed, drawing their attention. “Ladies, as much as I’d enjoy hearing you talk about unmentionables, I’ve got to see a man about a horse.”
“Sure you do.” Mama Lou laughed. “Stop by the café later, or if Tempest will share, I brought enough for two.”
“Thanks. I try not to miss a meal in the Bend.” Lucky nodded at them, and then quickly left the room.
“He’s a charmer, isn’t he?” Diana said.
“But who is he?” Tempest asked. “Surely Lucky can’t be his real name, can it?”
“Most likely, it’s his summer name like lots of folks use around here,” Mama Lou said.
“Summer name?” Tempest asked.
“Alias,” Diana explained.
“And I advise you not to go asking folks their names or where they are from, not unless you want trouble,” Ludmila added.
“That means I could take any name, couldn’t I?” Tempest warmed to the idea of starting over.
“Except you’ve already been given one,” Mama Lou said. “Temperance Tempest.”
“I doubt you will live that one down any time soon,” Ludmila said.
“I guess not.” Tempest chuckled, and the others joined her. “If I can’t ask Lucky’s real name, may I ask what he does?”
“I’d go easy on that question, too,” Diana said. “In a lot of cases, you don’t want to know.”
“Or it is not safe to know.” Ludmila shrugged. “If their money is good, that is good enough for me.”
“Lucky has a reputation around town for being a treasure hunter,” Mama Lou said.
“Treasure hunter?” Tempest glanced around the group, wondering if they were pulling her leg. “Out here? What could he find?”
“Those old tales about lost Confederate gold in the mountains of Indian Territory keep folks busy,” Mama Lou said.
“But that’s not a job.” Tempest felt disappointed. No name. No employment. Maybe he was just a handsome cardsharp with a fast gun. Still, she hoped not.
“We’ve seen him drink with outlaws, but never ride with them,” Mama Lou said.
“He’s a gentleman,” Diana added, smiling. “Whatever his background, that says a lot about him.”
“I suppose so.” Tempest appreciated good manners, but they could cover a lot of problems, too. Haig was a perfect example. “Excuse me. I don’t mean to be rude. Please sit down and join me for muffins.”
“Wish we could,” Mama Lou said, “but we’ve got to get back to work. We just came by to meet you and make sure you’re okay.”
“Thank you for your generosity.” Tempest folded the nightgown, and then laid it across the back of the rocking chair. “You caught me in a time of need. I’ll repay you as soon as my situation allows it.”
“We are glad to help out,” Ludmila said. “We have all been in trouble at one time or another. A helping hand is simply a helping hand. No need to pay us back. Pass it on to someone you meet who is in need.”
“That’s a wonderful way of looking at it. But still—”
“You’re right as rain in the Bend.” Mama Lou dusted her hands together. “Let’s get together for a confab tomorrow. We want to hear your story and we’ll tell you how we ended up in Delaware Bend.”
“As kind as you are, I won’t be able to stay,” Tempest said. “I have urgent business across the Red River in Indian Territory.”
“You were going with the temperance ladies?” Diana asked.
“Yes.”
“How will you go now?” Ludmila appeared concerned.
“I don’t know. But go there, I must.”
“Not to worry.” Mama Lou patted Tempest’s arm. “We’ll help you.”
“You must be tired from your long day,” Diana said. “Saul will bring up a hot bath later. Once you’re clean and rested, everything will look better.”
“I already feel better,” Tempest said. “Your generosity and kind words have helped a great deal.”
Mama Lou gave her another hug. “Just leave everything to the Ladies Benevolent Society of Delaware Bend.”
Tempest followed them to the doorway, watched them walk down the hall, and then closed the door behind them. She positioned a chair under the doorknob for safety, and then sat down in the rocker again.
What amazing women. They were so self-assured and so independent. They even ran their own businesses. They must have seen and heard what was happening to her and leaped into action to help. Their kindness did a lot to right her world. Once she had settled with Haig, she was going to repay them with more than just money.
As for the Red River Saloon, how could she have known that she would be chopping into a work of art? And poor Lulu? She wished she could repair the damage, but that was beyond her ability.
For now she would take advantage of the local largesse. She was tired and hungry. With little effort on her part, those needs could be met. As far as a man named Lucky, she felt a lingering hunger, a desire for a deeper connection with him. Yet he wasn’t her type of man and he had already moved on with his life.
She could imagine that he left a trail of hungry women in his wake. She walked over to the table, selected a muffin, and took a big bite. Life went down a lot easier with sugar. She just wished she had her own sugar, a wonderful, delectable man she could call hers.