Chapter 3
The Lucky Bull had a large sign painted above the door. It depicted the smiling caricature of a bull’s face, which had been rounded and made to look more friendly and even a little human. The animal wore a wide-brimmed hat and a shamrock medallion around his neck.
The building itself looked like a large house with a pitched roof and large front windows that looked out onto the street.
It was set in a quiet area just on the outskirts of town.
Another building peeked out on its right-hand side, and Anita guessed that was the stable, from the look of it.
All in all, the place seemed quite pleasant.
From the outside, at least. She prayed appearances wouldn’t be deceiving this time.
“It looks nice,” Kevin commented. “Anita, I’m really sorry about our lunch.”
It had to be the fourth or fifth time he apologized for something that wasn’t his fault.
How was he supposed to know those boors would decide to turn the saloon into their own boxing ring?
She’d never seen a match outside of a newspaper, but the sport was catching on enough across the country that she had a vague awareness of what it looked like.
She suspected blood and flying fists were involved.
“It’s okay,” Anita said, placing a hand on his arm. “You can’t be held responsible for every bad thing that happens in this town.”
He smiled at her so warmly that she felt like she blushed all the way to her insides.
They climbed down from the driver’s seat and went in through the front door. The smell of polish and something sweet wafted toward them. Ahead of them was a staircase leading to the upper floors, and to the right of it was a reception desk. It was about chest height and polished to a glossy sheen.
Anita approached the desk. The person behind the desk wasn’t Clara or Cleo. Should she ask for them? They were probably busy.
“Good afternoon,” the young gentleman behind the reception desk said. He was dressed quite smartly in a gray waistcoat and white shirt. His brown hair was neatly combed, and he wore what Anita thought of as a “dealing with customers” smile, which never really seemed to reach the eyes.
“Afternoon,” Kevin said. “We’re kind of stranded in town today and were wondering if you had rooms available.”
The man looked them over, undoubtedly noting the various bruises and cuts all over Kevin. “Did you have a fight?”
“We were caught up in a saloon brawl,” Kevin said.
“It just started while we were having lunch,” Anita explained. “We don’t even know what it was about.”
“I see,” the man said, his professional, friendly demeanor fading somewhat. “I will have to ask for a security deposit. I’m sure you understand.”
“But we weren’t part of the fight,” Anita said.
“So you say,” the man said. “We don’t know that.”
“It’s fine,” Kevin said. “I’ll pay the deposit, but we’d better get really nice rooms.”
“All of our rooms are nice,” the man said with a sneer. “This is a respectable establishment.”
Just then a door to the right opened, and Clara came through it. She instantly recognized Anita and smiled warmly.
“Oh, Anita, you came!” Clara said. Then she seemed to see the state Anita was in. “Oh my goodness! Tell me you weren’t at the saloon.”
“How do you know about it already?” Kevin asked in surprise.
“My cook was just passing there when it happened. She said she had never flagged down a buggy so fast in her life,” Clara said. “She was so afraid. She’s in hysterics in the kitchen as we speak.” She sighed. “But at least you’re here now and you’re safe.”
Anita nodded. “We would really like to get rooms, if we could?”
“Of course,” Clara said. “And you don’t need the security deposit, George. Anita is a new friend. We met earlier today at the train station and I invited her to stop by. I can assure you that she won’t be breaking things.”
George gave them both a glare that showed he was unconvinced.
“And this must be Kevin. I’m so relieved you found each other and will be staying with us,” Clara continued. “I have just the room for you.”
“Room?” Anita asked. “But—” she cut herself off. After everything that had happened in her short time in town, the last thing Anita wanted to do was be on her own. She decided that one room would be just fine and that the Lord surely wouldn’t disapprove. She felt safer with Kevin at her side.
“George, would you be a dear and give them the first suite?” Clara said. “And at half price. I don’t want poor Anita here to think that San Antonio is always lawless and barbaric.”
“Hold on a moment. I just need a quick word with Anita,” Kevin said urgently. And then, turning to Anita, he said softly, “Are you okay with one room for us both?”
She nodded, grateful for his thoughtfulness. “I feel much safer with you by my side,” she admitted.
He smiled. “I can sleep on the floor or something.”
“Or I can,” Anita said.
“Never,” he said firmly. Then, turning back to Clara, Kevin said, “All right, the suite it is. We can pay the proper price for it though.”
Clara waved his words away. “Just have dinner and breakfast here in the dining room for your own account and consider the room a wedding gift. I take it you two will be tying the knot soon?”
Kevin nodded. “Probably tomorrow.”
“Then it’s an early gift,” Clara said. “You know we do believe in kindness here in Texas, even if your introduction to the Wild West has been a bit too wild so far, Anita. We need to correct any misapprehensions you might have. This is a nice place. It really is, in spite of the occasional barroom brawl.”
“I’m quite sure you’re right,” Anita said, smiling. “Thank you so much. I believe an angel was standing beside me when you came into my life.”
“Oh, you are just sugar sweet,” Clara said. “Come on, let me show you to your room. I hope you’ll like it. It is one of our best, and we cater to a better kind of clientele than the saloon.”
That wouldn’t be hard, Anita thought ruefully to herself.
George handed over a large brass key, and Clara led them to the stairs.
“The Lucky Bull was my husband’s father’s dream,” she said as she led them up two flights of stairs.
“He came from England, and you’ll find the dining room is designed to be like an English pub.
Families often come here for lunch. We called it the Lucky Bull because my father-in-law’s nickname since childhood has been Bull. ”
Anita listened attentively as she always did to stories people told.
Sometimes they turned out to be interesting.
This one certainly was. The mention of families lunching here suggested children, which also made her think that she and Kevin would be safe here.
There would be no bar brawl under Clara’s watchful eye.
Especially not if children like Cleo were present. Anita was quite certain of that.
The suite was on the top floor of the inn and was one of four, Clara said. This was the nicer one as it got the morning sun. She and her family lived in the one on the western side of the building, which was a little bigger. The other two were north- and south-facing ones.
As the door opened, Anita’s mouth slid open. The room was large. There was a parlor closest to the door with two sofas and two comfy chairs around a coffee table.
“There is a bell pull here,” Clara said. “It will summon one of the maids to come and see what you need. Only the suites have that service.”
Anita wondered what clientele usually stayed in these rooms.
Clara walked through the parlor to some thick velvet curtains, which she drew apart.
The room was suddenly flooded with light.
Through the curtains was the bedroom. The bed was large and looked perfectly comfortable, but what took Anita’s breath away was the three large windows that stood side by side with hardly any wall between them.
It created a view like no other. They could see open spaces, vast blue sky, and rich farmland spread out below them.
“That is magnificent,” Kevin said.
Clara beamed. “Indeed, it is. One of our regulars, Mr. Santiago, loves the view. He always takes the southern suite. He just adores looking out over the town.” She sighed at the view. “Well, if there is anything you need, just pull on the velvet cord.”
“We have a cart that will need to be put somewhere safe,” Kevin said.
“We will be happy to take care of that for you,” Clara said.
Everything was set, and after fetching her luggage, Anita set to work exploring the suite until Kevin came back from running a quick errand. It could have been minutes or hours—she didn’t know; she had been entranced.
He was carrying a small bag and looked as though he had either been walking fast or running because his face was red, and he was sweating.
He dropped the bag on the coffee table and walked over to her.
“What’s in there?” she asked.
“A new shirt and some things I’m going to need since we’re sleeping here,” he said with a grin. “I wasn’t planning to stay the night.”
“Oh, I hope it’s not too inconvenient,” she said.
He shook his head. “I hope you really don’t mind sharing a room with me,” he said. “I didn’t think we should protest since they were so kind. I’ll sleep on one of the sofas.” He glanced back at them. “They look comfy enough.”
“Oh, I can take the sofa,” Anita said with a frown. “You’re too tall for them.”
“Nonsense,” Kevin said, and he walked over to the sofa and lay down to demonstrate. His feet hung over the armrest.
Anita went to the other one and lay down. Her whole body fit on it with no problem, and she arched an eyebrow in his direction.
Kevin sat up. “Look, it’s the gentlemanly thing to do,” he said. “I know it’s probably silly, but I am going to insist on this. You will sleep in the bed like the lady you are. And I, being a rough miner, will be sleeping on the sofa. Okay?”
It was probably the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for her, and so Anita capitulated.
They washed their hands and faces in the basin on the washstand and then went downstairs to try lunch again, this time at the inn’s pub.