Chapter 17
When Rose returned to the River Queen, she found Cherry waiting in her office. Rose had stopped by her second-floor room from time to time, always pleased to find the baby doing well and Cherry with a contented look about her, a far cry from that pale, desperate-looking young woman who had threatened to kill herself.
Cherry got up to greet her. “I hope you don’t mind me waiting in your office, Mrs. Peterson. I had to talk to you.”
“Of course, I don’t mind.” Rose seated herself at her desk and waved for Cherry to sit down. “Is the baby all right?”
“Oh, yes! My little James is a joy. When he smiles at me and waves his little fists, my heart melts. I can’t imagine life without him, thanks to you.”
Rose held up her hand to protest. “Compared to your benefactor, I haven’t done much. He’s the one you should thank, although, as I made clear, he doesn’t want your gratitude.”
“I wish I knew who he was. The thing is…” Cherry frowned and chewed on her lip, clearly struggling to find the right words. “I know how selfish this sounds, especially after all my benefactor has done for me, but I can’t stay in that little room much longer. I feel trapped. There’s hardly any sunshine. Did you know he sent me a baby carriage? I was ever so grateful, but I can hardly use it, being as every time I take the baby out, I have to bump the carriage all the way down the stairs and then past all those men acting like they never seen a baby before in their lives. And then when I get James and me out the door, there’s men on the street gathering around, all ogling and poking their fingers at the baby. They mean well, but I can’t get away from them. Besides that, the street’s all muddy, and I have to push really hard to make the wheels turn, and that’s why I don’t want to stay.” Cherry stopped to catch her breath. “I’m a terrible, ungrateful person, but that’s how I feel, and I don’t know what to do.”
“You’re not thinking of going back to what you were doing?”
“Never!” Cherry spiritedly shook her head. “I cringe when I think about it. I could never go back.”
Rose took a moment to gather her thoughts. If she’d taken the time to think, she would have realized a hotel was a poor place to raise a baby, even on the second floor. Terrible, in fact. “I hear what you’re saying, and of course, you’re right. This is my fault. I’ve been so busy with other things I didn’t take time to realize you can’t stay in that room forever.”
“I’m so sorry that I—”
“Don’t you dare be sorry. I’m glad you came to me. Don’t worry. I know exactly what’s to be done, and I’m going to take care of it right now.”
After Cherry left, Rose hastened to her room and went straight to the Bible that sat on the table beside her bed. She’d always held a great admiration for those virtuous souls who could instantly quote a suitable verse from the Bible for any and all occasions. Despite her many years of attendance at church and Sunday school, she couldn’t come close to such piousness. She would do her best, though. Where to start? She opened the cover and racked her brain. Ah, yes, Mark 11:25 would be good. If that didn’t work, Mathew 6:14-15 would surely do the job, or maybe something even better.
When she finally closed her Bible, she changed her dress to her favorite, the rose-colored cotton. She checked the mirror to make sure her hair was neat and the little tendrils around her face hadn’t blown all over the place. She planned on seeing Mitch, who wouldn’t have the least interest in how she looked. But what if Deke happened to be at the ice house? What would she say to him? More important, what would he say to her, or would he say anything at all?
Not that she cared. In fact, she hoped he wouldn’t be there. Did she really? She laughed to herself. Whom was she trying to fool? Of course, she hoped she’d see Deke, but then what would she do? Dulcee had said she wouldn’t have to lift her little finger to get him back, but she wasn’t at all sure that was so.
When Rose parked her buggy beside Fleming & Carter’s Ice House, she hid her disappointment that only Mitch was in sight, loading ice on a wagon in front. “Good afternoon, Mitch.” Smiling, she climbed from the buggy. “You’re just the person I wanted to see.”
“Me?” Mitch asked in his usual modest fashion.
“Yes, you. Can you spare a minute? I want to talk to you.”
They sat on the dock in front of the ice house. “It’s about Cherry,” Rose began. “She so appreciates all you’ve done for her, even though she doesn’t know who you are. But now…”
She went on to explain why the difficulties of caring for a baby in a hotel like the River Queen had put Cherry in a dilemma. “She can’t take it much longer, and I don’t blame her. But the thing is, what will she do?”
Mitch had listened carefully to her every word. “You don’t think she’d ever go back to…uh, her previous occupation?”
“She’ll never go back. Of course, being as women are so outnumbered around here, she’ll have no trouble finding a man to support her. But will he really love her? Or will he just want a woman to wash his clothes, cook his meals and…you know.”
“I see.” For a long moment, Mitch sat in silence, lips pursed in thought. “That night I met Cherry, when I helped bring her baby into this world—”
“You did more than help. Little James wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”
“You’re very kind, but what I was saying was I felt something special for Cherry even then. I admired how brave she was, gritting her teeth to keep from screaming, and how she never lost her sense of humor even in all that pain. I think I loved her even then. But when I found out what she did for a living…” A grieved expression crossed his face. “Some things are hard to forgive.”
Ah, the perfect opening. In her head Rose quickly ran through the verses she’d so carefully memorized. She hoped she wouldn’t stumble, but it was worth a try. “Mitch, are you familiar with Colossians 3:13? ‘Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.’”
Mitch nodded solemnly. “Ah, yes. The Lord has forgiven me many a time. But still—”
“Mark 11:25: ‘And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’”
Mitch arched an eyebrow in surprise. “I didn’t know you knew your Bible verses that well.”
“I don’t.” Despite the seriousness of the subject, she couldn’t help a playful grin. “I had to look them up before I came here.”
Mitch sat a moment and then broke into hearty laughter. Such unrestrained behavior wasn’t like him at all, but through his laughter, she’d detected a strain of relief, as if—could it be possible?—he might have got beyond certain narrow-minded beliefs he’d been raised with, and good riddance.
Cautiously, she inquired, “Have I made any sense?”
“You always make sense to me. I’ve heard every word you said, and I—” The sound of a horse’s hooves diverted Mitch’s attention. Deke came riding up on Sidney. Mitch stood up. “Guess I’d better get back to work. Nice talking to you, Rose. I’ll think about what you said.”
She had an urge to grab Mitch, tell him not to go, but with a wave to his friend, he ambled off before she could stop him. God help her, she was going to be alone with Deke. Her heart started pounding. Nothing she could do about it, though. Her mind went blank. All she could do was watch as Deke swung from his horse, graceful as always. His unreadable expression didn’t change as he touched two fingers to his hat in a brief salute. “Good afternoon, Rose.”
His greeting sounded so cool, so distant. Well, so would hers be. “Hello, Deke.” Good. She’d sounded just as cool. She’d pretend she was far too busy to talk and must depart immediately. “I was leaving.”
She turned her back on him and started walking toward her buggy. With each step she took, she hoped he’d speak. Please let him speak.
But he didn’t.
He must be watching, though. She unhitched Star and climbed in the buggy with extra care. God forbid she should trip on the hem of her dress and go sprawling. With a smart snap of the reins, she guided the buggy to the street, looking straight ahead, her nose in the air. She’d been crazy to think he cared a fig about her in the first place. She would never make such a stupid mistake again.
* * * *
Deke blew out his breath as he stared after her. Why hadn’t she said something? Why hadn’t he said something? But if Mason Talbot was her choice, what was there to say? Deke had pictured the scene a million times. Rose in the arms of that scoundrel—kissing him—or was she? At the time, he hadn’t questioned what he’d seen so clearly with his own eyes. Only later, when he got past his rage—a rare thing for him—had he begun to realize he may have been mistaken. The light was dim. From what he could see, Mason had wrapped his arms around Rose, but now that he looked back, her arms were not around him. He remembered what she’d said right before he drove away. Didn’t you see he was forcing me?
The more he thought about it…
He hadn’t realized it was possible to fall in love with someone so completely, and in such a short time. He had, though. Since that night, his gnawing ache for her hadn’t ceased. Fool that he was, he may have lost her, but by God, he was going to get her back. He just had to figure out how to do it.
* * * *
When Rose got back to the hotel, she found Howie waiting for her. “Your solicitor came by and left a message. He wants to talk to you.”
How strange. She couldn’t imagine a situation urgent enough to bring the dignified Mr. Field to the River Queen. “I’ll go see him right now.”
A visit to the solicitor’s office provided a sharp reminder of that momentous day she’d stood up for herself and refused to sign over the River Queen. It wasn’t that long ago, but already she felt like a different woman. Back then, she’d been anxious and ill at ease. Today she leaned back in her chair with confidence and addressed Mr. Field. “I received your message. What’s this about?”
The solicitor picked up a paper from his desk. “I’ll get right to the point. I have in my hand an offer from Mr. Mason Talbot. I must say, it’s quite extraordinary.” He regarded the paper with near disbelief. “Most extraordinary indeed.”
“Please do go on.”
“I won’t read all of it.” Mr. Field returned the paper to his desk, rested his elbows on the desk, and laced his fingers. “In essence, Mr. Talbot wishes to purchase your hotel, the River Queen, including all furnishings and various appurtenances, for forty-two thousand dollars. That’s twice what he offered the first time. Even taking into account the improvements you’ve made, such as the restaurant, that’s more than a generous offer.”
For only a fleeting moment did Rose consider what the magnificent sum of forty-two thousand could do. A fancy new wardrobe for herself and Lucy. A new carriage. A big house in the best part of town. But profits kept growing at the River Queen. Part of the fun was the challenge of making them increase even more. “You can tell Mr. Talbot thank you, but I’m not interested.”
With a start, the solicitor sat back in his chair. “Are you sure you understand? Offers such as this are hard to come by. You’ll never—”
“You heard me, Mr. Field. I will not sell the River Queen, no matter what the offer. Please convey my answer to Mr. Talbot, and you might add that if he thinks a higher offer will persuade me, he’s wasting his time.”
A long silence followed. The solicitor seemed to be frozen with astonishment. At last he spoke. “Well, I must say, you surprise me. Not that I mistrust your business acumen, but I hardly expected a refusal after such a magnanimous offer.”
She gave him a playful smile. “Well, you know how we women are. So scatterbrained and unreliable. It’s a wonder we’re allowed out of the house.” She picked up her reticle and rose to leave. “Thank you very much anyway.”
To her surprise, Mr. Field returned her smile, seeming to appreciate her attempt at humor. Quickly he grew serious. “Please sit down. I’m not through yet.”
“Something more?” She dropped into the chair again.
“Yes, something more.” He spoke slowly, as if carefully arranging his thoughts. “As I’m sure you’re aware, I’ve built a highly respectable reputation for myself in this town. My entire practice is built on my high regard for ethical behavior and lofty principles. Today, however, I shall make an exception.”
“You will?” She had no idea what he was going to say.
“I will.” Judging from the look on his face, he could be about to plunge from a high cliff into dangerous, deep waters below. “Mason Talbot is a spiteful man. He’s my client, so I’m definitely speaking out of turn, but I’m warning you to be careful, and I mean very careful indeed.”
“Why do you say that, Mr. Field?”
“Several reasons. From the beginning, I’ve considered Mr. Talbot’s behavior to be outside normal bounds, shall we say. Too pretentious…too ambitious…too ruthless. In his business dealings, he’s shown a decided penchant for getting what he wants, no matter whom he might hurt. That’s why I’m stepping away from my duties to my client to warn you.”
“You mean Mason might wish me harm?”
“This morning when he appeared in my office, he appeared calm but too calm, if you get my meaning. For appearance’s sake, he was keeping a tight control of himself, but underneath, I sensed he was seething with rage. He wants the River Queen, and he’s a man who doesn’t like to be thwarted. Anyone who crosses him does so at their peril. That’s why I’m warning you to watch out. Frankly, the best advice I can give you is to accept his offer and be done with it.”
“I can’t do that.”
Mr. Field threw up his hands. “You’ve been warned. Nothing more I can do except wish you well and ask that in any future dealings with Talbot, you at least stay vigilant.”
The stark intensity in the solicitor’s voice caused her to question her resolve. Was she making a mistake? Maybe she should take his advice and sell. But no, she refused to allow Mason Talbot to get the better of her. She’d come this far, and she would not turn back. “I truly appreciate your advice. I won’t change my mind, but I promise I’ll be careful.”
To her surprise, Mr. Field came around his desk, took both her hands in his and held them tight. His eyes brimmed with concern. “You’re a very special woman, Mrs. Peterson. Please take care.”
“I will, and don’t worry. I know how to take care of myself. After all, short of coming after me with a gun, what could he possibly do?”
Stepping out of Mr. Field’s office, she found a wet street and light rain falling. Not again. A big storm had just passed through. Now here came another. It seemed Sacramento had had more than its share of rain, and she fervently hoped it would stop soon.