Chapter 2
Leanne tried to stay blended with the crowd. She knew that Staley had his men out looking for her. If she could make it back to the boarding house with her friends, she would probably be safe for the night.
The man never did anything in public to disgrace himself, leaving all of that to his goons. To most citizens around here, he just looked to be a rich Yankee businessman, buying up property from poor women who couldn’t take care of themselves. The old timers in town didn’t care for the man, but he had been nothing but nice… in public.
A heavy hand slammed her shoulder. “Staley’s looking for you,” the man growled. “Don’t make me twist your pretty little arm out of socket getting you there.”
She nodded and fought back tears as the man roughly took her arm and led her down the street. He took her through the saloon, to the office in the back.
Staley, a decent looking man in his forties, looked up from the papers he was reading and glared at her, then waved for the man to leave.
He stood and motioned to a chair as he pulled at his sleeves and collar. The man was fanatical about his appearance.
“Have a seat, my dear. I haven’t seen you in a while. You haven’t been avoiding me, have you?”
Her knees were shaking as she sat under his scrutinizing stare.
“Why, no, not at all. I’ve been busy trying to find work.” Her voice quivered as she fought to stay as strong as possible.
He laughed. “My dear, sweet Leanne. You’ve no need to work. I thought I made that clear.”
“I have to pay you back for what you loaned me.”
“Nonsense. I told you, you’re the luckiest woman in town. I’m willing to take care of you.” He walked around his desk and stood behind her. One hand rested on her shoulder as the other feathered softly against her neck.
He bent and whispered in her ear. “All I want is you.” Placing a kiss on her neck, he stood straight and went back to his chair.
She felt the urge to be sick.
He opened a desk drawer and pulled out a sack of gold coins. “This is for you. Pay your friends to move you into the hotel by tomorrow evening. I can’t have you living in that slum they call a boarding house.”
“No, thank you. I’m fine, really.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Yes, you certainly are, but your friends won’t be for long, unless you start being nice to me.”
Her eyes were wide in surprise.
He chuckled and sat back in his comfortable chair looking smug. “Here’s your timeline. You have until tomorrow evening to move into the hotel.
“At that time, I will come to court you every evening I choose, for a month or so. During that time, you will make yourself presentable in fine clothes. You now have an account in every store in town.”
He stopped long enough to light a cigar. “Cross me once, you will find yourself locked in my saloon every day and working in it every night. Cross me twice, I will burn down that eyesore boardinghouse that all of your friends call home, during the night, when they least expect it.”
Tears filled her eyes and she roughly wiped them away. “But why? What have I ever done to you?”
An evil smile made the corners of his lips twitch. He leaned forward on the desk. “You captured my attention from the first day I moved here. Your beauty and sweet air of innocence intrigued me. You have a way of influencing people, which will be an absolute asset to me. You are the only woman in this town that I found interesting, that I couldn’t bribe or buy. That made you a challenge, and I do love a challenge.
“Through all my attempts to win you, you still refuse my help or attention. So, it looks as though I have to use other tactics because I always win.”
He set the cigar in a fancy ashtray. “I can offer you a life of pure luxury. You will be the queen of this town, highly respected, of course, because we will both be very generous with people, using only loving kindness in public. The Bible-thumpers will be our only adversaries due to the saloon, but no one takes them seriously anyway. Men will be men.”
He opened a thin book on his desk. “Today is March twenty-first. We will court throughout the month of April, with you convincing everyone of your love and devotion for me. We will make a public announcement of our wedding on May sixth, with our wedding to follow two weeks later, on May twentieth. One day short of two months from today, you will be my wife.”
Leanne had heard enough. She leaned forward, not able to help herself from losing her temper. She was always mild-mannered, but even a meek animal could turn mean when trapped.
She spoke through clenched teeth. “Who do you think you are? Don’t you know that slavery was just abolished? I will not become a slave or puppet to you or anyone. I would rather die first.”
He laughed sarcastically. “You do continue to amuse and intrigue me.” Standing, he moved to the door and motioned for someone as he opened it.
The goon that had manhandled her on the street entered with a woman wearing a saloon dress and a veil over her face.
He closed the door and walked to the woman, then turned back to her and spoke. “I am a gentleman, if at all possible. So not to cause this woman any embarrassment until you’ve made your final decision, I allowed her a veil.”
Lifting the veil slowly, he continued in his sickening sweet voice. “I believe you know each other?”
With the veil carefully removed, he stepped out of the way and waved his hand toward the woman.
Leanne gasped and tears flowed freely as she stood and walked to the woman who was sobbing quietly. They embraced and cried together for a moment.
“Catherine? Why? What is going on?” She looked at her life-long friend, then turned back to Staley with contempt.
He raised his hand. “Please, don’t thank me for this final warning, dear. I just wanted you to know how serious I am. Dear sweet Catherine will become Cat tonight, for the rest of her life, unless you decide to play nice. If you refuse me, you will join Cat tomorrow night.”
Leanne felt the room spinning as she looked back at Catherine who was sobbing, trying her best to cover her exposed bosom.
“Let her go. I will do as you ask.” She saw the goon grab Catherine’s arm and walk toward the door. That was the last thing she remembered before everything went black.
********************
Leanne awoke in a daze, wondering where she was. Looking around the room before trying to sit up, she couldn’t believe how lavishly decorated it was.
A movement from the corner caught her eye as a woman wearing heavy makeup and a frilly, indecent dress came to sit beside her.
“Feeling better, sweetie?” The woman stroked her hair tenderly.
“Yes, thank you, ma’am. Where am I?”
The woman chuckled lightly. “This is Staley’s room, and from what I hear, will soon be yours as well.
“When you feel well enough, I will lead you out through his private entrance.”
Leanne sat up slowly and pushed herself off the bed. Just the thought of being on that man’s bed disgusted her. “I think I’m okay. Please, just point the direction out of here.”
She made her exit swiftly, realizing she was just a block from the main street, directly behind the saloon. Walking as fast as she could in the last rays of sunshine, she made her way to the boarding house.
“Leanne,” Mrs. Douglas called as she entered. “My dear, are you okay? You look quite pale.”
Mrs. Douglas was a nice, motherly type woman, and had taken countless girls into her boarding house when they had found themselves poverty stricken. She was a good woman, offering comfort and safety, but she did wag her tongue quite loosely at times.
“Yes, ma’am. I’m fine, just worn out from searching for work.”
“Supper is almost ready.”
She nodded and made her way to the room she shared with three other girls. Two of them, Natalie and Miriam, she had known for years, and trusted completely. Wanda, she wasn’t sure about. She seemed okay, but secretive, and had never been seen in town until recently. She said she just lived farther up the mountain and had no reason to come to town until after her folks died.
Leanne had prayed about this situation all the way home, and it seemed she grew even more wary of Wanda as she did. She suddenly realized that Catherine, who bunked in another room, had recently been in an argument with Wanda. Now, Catherine was held captive by Staley until Leanne moved her things into the hotel tomorrow? That seemed quite a coincidence.
She had until tomorrow night to find a way to talk to Natalie and Miriam without any prying ears. It was about time for her to try out some acting skills as well.
The boarding house was overcrowded, but everyone knew they were doing the best they could. At mealtimes, people would sit in the dining room, the parlor, and even on the porch if the weather allowed.
As everyone began to eat, Leanne stood between the dining room and parlor where she could get everyone’s attention. “Excuse me, please. Mrs. Douglas, I want to thank you for everything you have done for me, but tomorrow,” she intentionally brightened her smile and eyes, “I will be moving to the hotel.”
She heard quiet gasps and forks clattering to their plates as everyone looked from her, to each other, and back to her again.
Clearing her throat, she continued with her farce of a happy tale. “A nice gentleman has asked to court. If all goes as planned, we will be married in May, but we need this next little while to get to know each other better.
“He happens to be a man of means, and has his own place, but asked that I stay at the hotel during our courtship.” She smiled radiantly and even made it more believable by clapping her hands in joy.
Mrs. Douglas stood and hugged her, offering congratulations. “You look so happy, and that makes me happy for you. Who is this man? Do we know him?”
She blushed and spoke timidly. “I’d rather not say for now, until we begin our courtship.”
Leanne glanced at her two friends, who sat in shock and dismay. Then she looked at Wanda, who gave her a scathing look before resuming her meal.
When supper ended, Leanne offered to help with the dishes since it would be her last chance. They each had assigned chores each day that were posted on the dining room wall. Natalie was on kitchen duty. At least she may get to tell her a bit of the truth.
Wanda and Miriam were milking cows tonight, so that helped too, by keeping Wanda occupied.
Natalie seemed to want some time alone just as much as she did.
When everyone left the kitchen, she turned to Leanne. “I thought we were going to become mail order brides.”
“Shh, just keep your voice down and listen to me. This is urgent. Wash dishes while we talk.”
As they finished the last of the dishes, she finished sharing the details with, “I have a pocket full of money. You go to lawyer Deaton. I trust him. Tell him everything I’ve told you. Tell him to find me a husband as quickly as possible. I have to be married and out of here before Staley finds out.”
“How do I get word to you?”
“I’ll figure out a way. You just pray harder than ever. Be cautious of everyone. Someone is giving Staley information about what’s going on inside this house.”
The girls shared a quick embrace, as Leanne took the money out of her pocket and gave it to Natalie.
********************
Leanne held back three coins to pay her three roommates to help her get moved and settled. She needed to make Wanda feel like nothing was amiss.
The last of her meager belongings were moved from Mrs. Douglas’ barn to the hotel, right before suppertime.
“Ladies, I’m sure my intended won’t mind if I treat you to supper at the hotel dining room. I’m going to miss the three of you so much. I’ll miss the others too, but you three are special to me. I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”
They quickly agreed and went to Leanne’s room to freshen up.
Returning to the lobby a few minutes later, Leanne noticed the goon sitting in a quiet corner, acting engrossed in a newspaper. Her smile never faltered; she knew someone would be watching her to give a full report to Staley.
Her lips twitched in an uncontrollable grin. She was sure that goon didn’t have enough sense to read, and she wished she could approach him, just to see if the paper was turned right side up or upside down.
Instead, she ushered her three friends into the dining room, acting as if she hadn’t seen him.
********************
The next morning, Leanne went to the dressmaker as instructed by Staley, buying the only two dresses the woman had that came close to fitting her. With a few quick measurements, the woman got busy making the alterations.
Leanne took this time to purchase some new shoes and a few other things. Staley had told her to get what she needed, and that’s what she intended to do.
By noon, the dresses were done, and Leanne took her purchases back to her hotel room. A note was stuck under her door, stating she should be ready for supper at six.
She eyed the dresses as she hung them up, noticing both had multiple buttons in the back. That’s when she got an idea. “Thank you, Lord.”