Chapter 3
As if her predicament wasn’t bad enough, Leanne forced herself to think of everything sad that would bring her to tears.
A knock on the door prompted her to look again in the mirror as tears ran down her cheeks. Cracking the door just enough to see and be seen, she saw the goon.
“Staley’s waiting downstairs. Come on.”
Her lip quivered and the tears continued. “But I can’t. I need help. I need you to get a woman to help me, please.”
She closed the door and waited.
Staley’s voice called to her compassionately as he tapped on the door moments later. “Sweetheart? Could you open the door and tell me what’s wrong?”
Cracking the door just enough for him to see her dabbing at tears with her lacey handkerchief, she cried a bit more.
“I’ve tried so hard to do as you asked, wanting to make myself as proper and attractive as possible. But I can’t button my dress! I need help!”
“My dear, don’t cry. I can do…”
“No! That wouldn’t be decent! Please, just find a woman to help me.”
“Yes, I suppose I should.”
“Thank you.” She closed the door and sighed with relief. It was astonishing to her how kind and courteous Staley was in public, versus in private at the saloon.
At half past six, she entered the dining room, looking better than Staley had imagined. Her face was radiant and tear free, her hair was adorned with silver combs, and she was smiling.
He stood, having to force himself to stop being mesmerized. Instead, he needed to be suspicious of what game she was playing.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting,” she apologized.
He took her hand and kissed it. “You are worth the wait, I assure you. I’m sorry you had such trouble, but may I ask, didn’t you realize the thing with the buttons before you bought the dress?”
She looked downward like a scolded child. “No, I didn’t. I bought the only two dresses in the shop that would fit me. You didn’t really give me much choice.”
He sat down after seating her and rubbed his chin. “No, I guess I didn’t. I’m sorry. Shall we start over?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
Their food arrived as soon as he motioned to the proprietor.
“Don’t think I’m not grateful to be seen with such a lovely woman, but I must say, your attitude is much different than when I saw you last.”
She looked at him with a kind smile. “Staley, I have resigned myself to the fact that I have no choice in this matter. I have decided to make the best of it. Things could be much worse, as you so plainly pointed out to me.”
“Hmm, you expect me to believe that I have found a reasonable woman?” He laughed with amusement.
She continued to look at him as her eyes began to tear again, and her lip trembled. “I’m really trying to please you,” she whimpered.
He took her hand. “I’m sorry. Please, enough tears. I too, will try then. You make a believer of me, and I’ll make a believer of you. Deal?”
She nodded and picked up her fork. “I have some questions, if you don’t mind?”
He nodded as he chewed.
“Is Staley your first name or last? I need to know what to call you.”
“You could call me sweetheart, honey, my love,” he winked at her. “Or you can call me Frank or Franklin. My name is Franklin Staley.”
“Okay, Franklin. Can you tell me of your plans for where we will live?”
“I assumed we would live in my place behind the saloon. It makes it convenient for me to go there when needed.”
“Oh,” she sounded disappointed and fell silent.
He took another bite and waited for her to continue. She didn’t look at him or speak.
“Umm, I take it you aren’t pleased?”
She looked at him seriously. “I just don’t think that’s the best place to raise a family.”
“A family? My dear, you have been thinking ahead. I’m glad to hear it, but I hadn’t planned on children.”
She gasped and let her fork clatter on her plate. “No children?” she whispered. “Franklin, surely you know that most women want children, and I’m one of them. Would you really deny me that?”
He tugged at his collar then reached for her hand. “I see that we have a lot to discuss. If you want children, we will have them. If you want to live outside of town a bit, I guess I can do that too. Just don’t get upset.”
“But Franklin, these need to be things we both want and agree on. Don’t you understand? If you don’t want children, then I assume you won’t have much to do with raising them. I don’t want to raise them on my own. We need to do it together or not at all. But I would be heartbroken not to have any.”
“We will work it out, I promise. You’re just causing me to think about things I had never considered.”
After a moment of silence, she prodded more.
“What about church? Surely, as leading people in the community, we need to attend church.”
He swallowed his food and took a sip of water, looking a bit annoyed. “Can we finish our meal before we make any life altering decisions, please?”
“Certainly.”
He sighed with relief.
They ate in relative silence, only speaking of pleasantries about the meal, the weather, and other non-eventful things.
“Franklin, I thought we were supposed to spend this time together getting to know each other.”
He sighed, “Yes, but not all in one evening. Pace yourself.”
“But…”
He held his hand up. “You’ve already given me enough legitimate things to think on this evening. That’s enough.”
“But I must ask one more thing. It’s important.”
He rolled his eyes and motioned for her to continue.
“So I don’t run into the same problem with my dress tomorrow night, could I possibly hire someone to help me dress? I could spend more time making myself presentable, perhaps even have some assistance with a bit of makeup and my hair. It will just be while we court, of course. I will have you to help me after we marry.” She finished with a blush, looking as timid as ever.
Was she serious? She looked as harmless, pure and sincere as he had ever seen. Surely, she wasn’t up to mischief after the warning he’d given her.
“I don’t see any harm in that, I suppose. I can get one of the girls from the saloon to help you.”
She gasped, holding her hands to her chest as if exposed. “Oh, that won’t work. I can’t undress in front of a stranger. Besides, do you want my face to be painted like theirs? They don’t know any other way to do it.”
He sat back and eyed her. Did she really have a good point? Was she really that modest? From all the checking he had done on her, maybe she was. And he was sure she was right about the makeup. He certainly didn’t want her painted up like that.
“And just who do you have in mind?”
“Well, even though I don’t know my roommates that well, we did share a room and lost our modesty with each other, so to speak. I guess I would be most comfortable with them, and they could sure use the money.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. You may be planning something if you’re allowed around your friends.”
She lowered her head. “Okay, I will do the best I can, alone. I will have to wear some of my old dresses that button in the front until I can get some made.
“Surely, you know who my friends are, and none of them are my roommates. My roommates are acquaintances. We’ve been so busy trying to survive, we haven’t had time to be friends. We only bonded in efforts of survival. Catherine and only two others are my actual friends.”
He leaned forward on the table. “Yes, Catherine, Flossy, and Bettie.”
Her eyes went wide and her lip truly trembled. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Hmm, well, since you know now, that I know where your weaknesses lie, I suppose you can hire one of your roommates. Maybe you can become friends and I will gain another pawn.”
She swallowed back her tears and looked at him. “Thank you so much for ruining a perfect evening. Are we finished? I would like to go back to my room.”
He stood and took her hand, helping her to stand before offering his arm.
“I just thought I would give you something to think about, my dear.” He chuckled lightly. “You’ve certainly given me enough.”
As they strolled slowly through the lobby, she looked up at him. “There’s one more thing I need to know. Which side were you on during the war?”
Surprised, he stopped and turned to her. “Neither, but I don’t see what difference it makes. I was wealthy enough to pay my way out of it and continued making a fortune, which you will soon have the privilege and honor to help me spend. Why do you ask?”
She shrugged. “Not that I think that’s a very honorable thing, but at least you aren’t a Yankee. That’s a mark in your favor, I suppose. I wouldn’t make any effort if you were. I would fight you every way I could, kicking and screaming the entire time.”
He chuckled and began walking her toward the stairs. “Lucky me!”
He stopped at her door, took her key, and opened the door for her. Motioning her in, she took a deep breath, anticipating the awkwardness of their parting moment.
“Hire your assistant, and I will be here anticipating the results tomorrow evening at six. Goodnight, my dear.” He kissed her hand gently, turned, and left…like a true gentleman.
********************
Leanne wondered long into the night what she should do next, and asked the Lord to guide her, as well as asking Him to forgive her deception. It was a matter of survival, just like everything had been for the last two years, ever since the Yankees moved through and destroyed everything they could.
Since then, they had come to town by droves, buying up everything that had any value. She could have sworn Staley, or Franklin, was one. But recently, she had heard someone say he was from Richmond, Virginia. Now she knew he was neutral, which wasn’t quite as bad as a Yankee, at least in her way of thinking. At least he didn’t just take advantage of southerners, he took advantage of everyone.
Oh, yes, he was despicable all right, but with the Lord’s help, she wouldn’t be his victim for long.
The next morning, she hurried toward the boarding house in hopes of finding Natalie. She noticed another one of Franklin’s men following her at a distance.
Hurrying on, she went into Mrs. Douglas’ house and found Natalie on her way out.
“I need to speak with you, Natalie.”
“I’m in a bit of a hurry, but you can walk with me if you like. I got a job and can’t be late.”
“That’s great news! Where?”
“At the dress shop. I took a sample of my work to show her yesterday, and she said she needed me to start immediately.”
“This is wonderful, and since I’m about to have some dresses made, I will walk you there. I also have a small job offer for you.”
They talked all the way to the dressmaker’s shop, with Leanne looking occasionally to see the man still following.
“I get off work at five, Leanne, so I will hurry right over to the hotel.”
“Good. As soon as I get fitted for some new dresses, I will go buy some face paint.”
They chuckled together.
“Have you spoken with the lawyer yet?”
“Yes, I have. His eyes lit up as if he was very interested in any details I could give. I’m supposed to go back at the end of the week.”