Chapter 14
When Rose reached the hotel, to her surprise she found a near state of normalcy. Many of the survivors had already left. In the saloon, the usual throng of miners crowded around the tables and stood three-deep at the bar. Last night’s angels of mercy, the third-floor girls, were back to mingling with the customers, coarse and flirtatious as always in their gaudy finery. Rose found Tillie and drew her aside. Her words came easily, perhaps because she’d made up her mind and knew exactly what she was going to say. “When I saw what you and your girls did last night, I knew I could never throw you out. You can stay as long as you need to. Of course, you know how I feel about prostitution. I won’t have it at the River Queen. I’d like to end it right now, but I’ll give you one more month before I shut it down.”
Tillie stared at her in surprise. “You really mean it, don’t you?”
“I give you my word I mean it, so if you stay, you must agree to look for another line of work. Meanwhile, I’ll make sure there are other jobs available. If you prefer to remain in your profession, all I ask is that you don’t delay looking elsewhere.”
“That’s fair. We’ll start looking.” Tillie actually smiled. “You didn’t do too bad yourself last night, Mrs. Peterson. Goes to show you’re not all bad.”
Pleased at her conversation with Tillie, Rose headed for the restaurant, where she found Gaston unpacking dishes in the newly refurbished kitchen. When he saw her, a look of relief crossed his face. “Ah, there you are, madame. We were beginning to worry about you.”
“I was up all night but finally got some sleep.” She remembered his part in the harrowing hours after the Mary Jane exploded. “I so admire what you did last night. Every time I looked, you were either pulling people from the river or carrying the injured to the tent. If not for you and a few others, many more would have drowned.”
He ducked his head modestly, a rare occurrence for the arrogant Monsieur Bernier. “Like everyone else, I did what I could. Tell me…” He seemed at an unusual loss of words. “Is Mademoiselle Drucilla all right? She was up all night helping in the tent, and I haven’t seen her today.”
“She’s fine. I haven’t seen her either, but I know she went home to get some sleep.”
Gaston bit his lip, seeming to struggle for words. “Perhaps…you could do me this favor.”
“Of course, anything.” She could already guess what he was going to say.
“This may come as a surprise to you, but I have grown fond of your sister-in-law.”
“Really? I had no idea.” Whenever he saw Drucilla, he resembled a lovesick puppy, but she wouldn’t tell him that.
“But I don’t know how she feels about me. Would it be possible…? I don’t suppose you could—?”
“Find out how she feels?”
“Yes, that’s it.” He smiled with relief. “Up to now, she has ignored me, but last night at the river, when I was carrying a child to safety, I thought I saw a look of admiration in her eye. I’m not sure, though. So if you could do it without…without—”
“Letting her know? Of course, I’d be happy to.” She touched his arm and bent close. “This is between you and me.”
He gave her a heartfelt thank you. Quickly reverting to his usual superior self, he launched into a discussion of what was still needed for the nearly finished restaurant. Before she left, she asked about the date for the opening. Because of the accident, would he delay it?
He tilted his head back and looked down his nose. “Certainly not. I may have lost my poaching pans, but I assure you, madame, Gaston’s will open on time.”
Rose found her sister-in-law on the second floor, checking the near-empty linen closet. “Well, there you are,” said Drucilla. “I was beginning to worry. Raymond told me you came to the farm last night, and of course—”
“I discovered Ben threw all my things out.” Rose didn’t quite succeed in keeping the bitterness from her voice. “Sorry. You’re not to blame. I worry about Lucy. I never dreamed they’d keep me from my daughter.”
A pained expression crossed Drucilla’s face. “I know. It’s terrible what Pa did. I tried to talk him out of it, but you know how he is when he gets stubborn. The trouble is, he doesn’t understand. Frankly, neither did I, before I started working here. I would have agreed with him about getting rid of the third-floor girls, but now that I’ve met them and heard their stories, I can see how cruel you would be to throw them out.”
Grateful for her sister-in-law’s support, Rose repeated the conversation she’d had with Tillie. “So prostitution ends at the River Queen in a month, but the girls can stay if they want to.”
“Good for you. That’s the perfect solution.” Drucilla heaved a sigh. “Although I suspect Pa will still be mad. He’s too rigid in his thinking ever to understand a compromise.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Rose replied. “You’ve done your best to help me, and it’s not your fault. Are my clothes still lying on the ground?”
“Not anymore. Raymond and I packed up all your belongings. I brought them to the River Queen and had them placed in an empty room. So you’ve got your clothes and you’ll have a place to stay tonight, as long as you want.” Drucilla cocked her head. “Where did you go after you left the farm? I knew the hotel was full, and I was worried.”
Rose felt her face turning red. “I found a place.”
Drucilla, who was certainly nobody’s fool, raised an eyebrow. “You either went to Mason Talbot or to a certain good-looking Australian. I’d wager it was the Australian, but I’ll say no more.”
“That would be wise.”
Rose remembered Gaston’s request. Now she had the perfect opening. “Speaking of good-looking men, did you happen to notice our new French chef during the rescue last night? Who would have thought he would be that brave, the way he worked alongside Deke and Mitch the whole night long. So admirable, I thought, the way he put own life in danger to pull those poor drowning people from the river.”
“We saw lots of brave deeds last night.” Drucilla paused to reflect. “Although I will admit I noticed how Gaston worked nonstop. Frankly, I was surprised. I would have thought he’d consider himself too important to lend a hand, but from what I saw, he conducted himself splendidly.”
Rose phrased her next sentence carefully. “He’s quite fit, I noticed. Not an ounce of extra fat on him, despite those fancy meals he prepares.”
“And strong,” Drucilla added with enthusiasm. “Did you see how he lifted a grown man out of the boat and carried him to the tent by himself?”
So Drucilla had been watching him, a good sign she was interested. “I certainly did notice how strong he is, and intelligent, too. He’s quite well read, you know, and has a variety of interests beyond the culinary. In fact”—she may as well go all out—“in my humble opinion, you two are eminently suited to one another. You both speak French and I don’t know how many other languages. You both have varied interests and love to read. You both—”
“It’s hopeless. I must admit, I find him admirable in many respects, but there’s one thing wrong with him that he can’t change.”
“He’s too short?”
“Only by an inch, but that’s too much.”
Rose hid her disappointment. If she could wave a magic wand and add a couple of inches to Gaston’s splendidly masculine frame, she would do so, but the best she could tell him was she’d tried and sadly failed. Perhaps somehow, some way, he might find something that would change Drucilla’s opinion, but she couldn’t imagine what.
As soon as she could, Rose made her way to the third floor to visit Cherry and the baby. The new mother was sitting on the side of the bed, the newly arrived James Alan Foley wrapped snug in a blanket in her arms.
“Mrs. Peterson, I’m glad you came. Ain’t he precious?” Her voice filled with pride. “Ain’t he the most beautiful baby you ever seen?”
“He certainly is.” Rose smiled. “Except for my own, of course. I have a little girl.”
“You do? How old is she?”
“She’s five.” At the thought of Lucy, a flash of desolation ripped through her, but now was not the time to be thinking of herself. “I see you’re out of bed already.”
“And doing fine, only…” Cherry’s mouth trembled. “Tillie says he can’t stay here. I’ve got to give him up, and it’s going to be harder than I ever imagined. I told myself I wouldn’t care, but now that I’ve seen him, I love him so much I don’t know what I’ll do without him, and what will he do without me?”
“I’m surprised. Didn’t Tillie tell you I’m closing the third floor in just a month?”
Cherry nodded sadly. “She said it didn’t make any difference. Whether I go or stay, I’m not capable enough to care for my own child, and it’s best he goes. She won’t tell me where. I’m better off not knowing, she says. She won’t give me the names of the people who’ll take him, and neither will Jake.”
How cruel. Rose searched for words, but nothing she could say would ease Cherry’s pain at losing her child. She could speak with Tillie and Jake. After all, she owned the place, and if she told them not to take Cherry’s child away, they’d have to do what she said. But then what? No getting around it, the third floor was the absolute worst place in the world for a baby. Of course, it would soon be closing, but this was a problem that needed solving now. Perhaps Cherry could find another kind of work. “Have you ever considered doing something else other than this?”
“Like what?”
Rose tried to recall all she knew about available jobs for unskilled females in the town of Sacramento. There wasn’t much, except… “All the hotels need maids, including the River Queen. I could ask Drucilla.”
Cherry sadly shook her head. “Do you know how much those maid jobs pay? I wouldn’t mind the work, but I could hardly earn enough to support myself, let alone a child.”
Unfortunately, Cherry was right. Rose had no other ideas. “I’ll speak to Tillie and make sure you have more time. So don’t worry, they won’t be coming up here tomorrow to take James away.” She heaved a sigh. “I’m so sorry, Cherry. I’m hoping there’s a solution, but I’ve yet to find it.”
Cherry put on a brave face. “There ain’t no solution for me. I’m only a whore, and you shouldn’t go to all that trouble to help me. I know better than anyone my baby can’t stay here long.”
Rose left Cherry’s room with a heavy heart. At the moment, she could think of no happy ending for Cherry’s heartbreaking dilemma and wasn’t at all sure she’d find one. She found Tillie in her room and got down to business immediately. “I’d like to talk to you about Cherry.”
Tillie’s granite-eyed expression told her she had no time for sympathy. “She can’t keep it.”
“Are you sure?”
Tillie smirked. “What do you suppose our customers are looking for when they get to the third floor? Do you think they want to hear a baby bawling?”
“I suppose not.”
“Look, you’re the boss, but listen to what I’m telling you. I don’t like to be tough, but a baby doesn’t belong in a brothel. And what’s she going to do after it shuts down? She’s got no other way to support herself. I’ve got a farm family that’ll take the kid in. It wouldn’t be the first one. The farmer works ’em hard, but at least they get three meals a day and a roof over their heads.”
Hopeless. Why had she even tried? “Could you wait a few more days? I promised Cherry you would.”
“A few more days won’t matter, one way or another.”
The words stuck in her throat, and she had to force them out. “Thank you, Tillie. That’s most considerate.”
Rose got to her office and had hardly settled at her desk when Mason knocked and came in. Looking dapper as always, he dropped into the chair across, remarking, “Did you get some rest after last night?”
“Not much.” Curiosity got the better of her. “I didn’t see you at the river last night.” She refrained from adding, not like nearly every able-bodied man in this town.
If her question annoyed him, he didn’t let on. “Quite a night, wasn’t it? I was at the Egyptian. Spent the night finding shelter for those poor souls from the ship.”
Was he telling the truth or did he consider himself too important to join the others and help? She suspected he did, but she might as well drop the subject. He’d never admit it.
He examined her closely. “You look tired.”
“That’s because I’ve had a few problems.” She hadn’t planned on telling him, but he did seem concerned, and besides, with his knowledge and the connections he had in this town, he might have some good advice. She told him all of it: how she’d gone home dead tired and exhausted, only to find Ben had kicked her out. Of course, she made no mention of how she’d gone to Deke. Fortunately he didn’t ask.
Mason listened to her story, eyes full of concern. When she finished, he asked, “So what will you do?”
“I don’t know. I’ve hardly had time to think.”
“Do you need a place to stay? You’re always welcome at the Egyptian.”
“Thank you, but Drucilla saved me a room here in the hotel. I want to go home, though.” He’d been so warm and friendly, she didn’t hold back. “They can’t keep me away from my daughter. There’s got to be law against such a thing. Should I see Mr. Field? If you think he might help, please tell me.”
“I don’t see it would do much good. My best advice is simply be patient and wait. Sooner or later these little family tiffs will settle themselves. If there’s anything I can do to help, you can count on me.”
She didn’t appreciate his calling her dilemma a “little family tiff,” but still, his soothing words made her feel better. “Thank you for that. You know I value your advice.”
After they chatted for a while, Mason rose to leave. Up to that moment, he’d been warm and friendly, but now his face settled into a stony expression of warning. “You want my advice? You’re making a mistake.”
Taken aback, she asked, “In what way?”
“Ben’s right. You’re a genteel woman, and you’re out of your depth. It takes a man to run a hotel like the River Queen with its prostitution and gambling. Frankly, as a friend who’s concerned only for your best interests, the best advice I can give you is to sell the hotel and devote yourself to raising your child.”
Her mouth dropped open. She couldn’t find words.
He hadn’t finished. “You’re a beautiful woman, meant for better things than dealing with a bunch of lowlifes.” His expression softened. “Think over what I said, and meantime, will you have dinner with me tomorrow night? If you like, I’ll take you to Le Chantecler again.”
“I…I’ll let you know.”
After Mason left, she sat stunned at her desk for she didn’t know how long. Was he right? Everyone admired and respected Mason Talbot, highly successful businessman, all-around pillar of strength and respectability in the community. He was right, at least in one respect. She was, after all, only a woman and knew full well that not only Mason but most everyone would agree she was out her depth. Certainly Ben would. Only a deep belief in herself had kept her going, but now…?
Only twenty-four hours ago, her life was going well and she was bursting with confidence. No longer. She buried her head in her hands. She’d lost her daughter, lost her home, and a man she greatly respected had just informed her she wasn’t fit to run her own hotel. She thought of Deke. At least he believed in her, but was that enough?