Chapter Twenty-Two
Startled from her troubled thoughts, Josephine’s hand flew to her throat. The woman wearing the red sequined dress stood right in her line of vision.
“Sorry for scarin’ ya. I’m Red.” She stepped out onto the boardwalk and took a deep breath. “It smells a hell of lot better out here than in there.”
“It sure does. So, you know who I am?”
“Hell, yeah. If I’d have known a pair of tight trousers would’ve landed me the most handsome man in town I would have flaunted my ass instead of my bosoms.” Red laughed raucously. “Whatcha doin’ hangin’ in front of a saloon? Ya ain’t lookin’ for yer man, are ya?”
Josephine nodded. “Someone told me Logan was here.”
“Then that someone told you wrong, honey. I ain’t seen him since yesterday.”
Josephine fumed. Leave it to Lily to steer her wrong. She had a good mind to go back to the store and punch Lily in the face.
“Then I apologize for being a bother.” Feeling like a fool, Josephine turned away.
“Hold on a minute there, Mrs. West. You ain’t no bother. What’s the boyish getup for? Knowin’ Logan, I doubt he’d allow his wife to wear pants in public.”
Josephine stopped and retraced her steps. “Oh, he doesn’t know I’m here.” No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t stop her gaze from dropping to the woman’s near exposed bosom. Holy Moly, she never knew breasts could grow so big.
Someone shouted from inside the saloon, “Hey, Red, you in this game or not?”
“Keep yer pants on, Jimmy,” Red hollered back, adding a few expletives. “Sometimes men can sure be a pain in the ass.”
The sarcastic remark made Josephine giggle. Red wasn’t all that bad. “Well, since Logan’s not here I won’t take up any more of your time. Thanks, Miss Red.”
“Call me Hazel. Not too fancy for a whore, eh? But all jokin’ aside, did you drink that stuff in the vial this mornin’?”
For some reason Josephine didn’t take offense at the personal question. “No, I didn’t.”
“Good girl. I was hopin’ you wouldn’t. Logan’s a good man. If I were in your boots I’d head on home, prepare him a good supper, and then take him to bed…” She winked slyly. “Ya know what I mean?”
Hazel’s suggestion echoed in her head as Josephine stepped off the boardwalk and onto the dusty road. She planned on doing that very thing. She couldn’t go on living without Logan. Hopefully he felt the same way.
Josephine raced across the street, but never made it past the alleyway. She was grabbed by the arm and yanked into the shadows.
“I shoulda knowed I’d find you hangin’ around a saloon. Like mother like daughter, but ya ain’t gonna make money dressed like that.”
A feeling of dread raced down Josephine’s spine. “Jed Bolton, what are you doing here?”
“Came fer some supplies. That Lily is one mighty fine piece. She done tole me you were here.” He squeezed her arm and she cried out. “Maybe we can have us a reunion of sorts.”
Josephine squirmed, but his bony fingers only dug harder into her flesh. “Not on your life. Let me go, you bastard.”
“The hell I will. Yer comin’ with me. We have a little business to take care of.”
“I’m married.”
“Yer husband let ya run ‘round dressed that way?”
“That is none of your business. Now, let me go.”
She managed to kick him in the shin. He howled in pain, but didn’t loosen his grip.
“Get your hands off my wife.”
“Logan,” Josephine cried. Adrenaline pumping, she kneed Jed in the groin. Clutching his balls, he doubled over and she was able to break free. She ran to Logan standing several feet away and threw her arms around his neck.
“Oh, Logan, I’m so glad you’re here.”
Logan curled one arm around her waist.
“You let her near saloons? ‘Cause that’s where I saw her come out of,” Jed muttered, still holding his groin.
“What my wife does and where she goes is my responsibility and doesn’t concern you, Bolton.”
Josephine’s heart did a happy dance.
Jed shook his head in disgust. “Yer makin’ a big mistake, mister. That there gal will give you nothin’ but trouble.”
“I can handle a little trouble. I can handle big trouble if you get my meaning.” Logan’s right hand hovered just above his holster. “Get behind me, Josephine.”
Josephine let go of his neck and obediently moved behind her husband. Jed Bolton wasn’t the kind of man who took orders from anyone. He was always one to shoot first and ask questions later.
To her relief, he walked to his horse instead.
“Don’t bother coming back or I’ll have you arrested.”
“On what charge?”
“Harassing my wife.”
Jed spit out a stream of tobacco juice. “I don’t need this town anyway. Take her, she don’t mean a thing to me.”
Both Josephine and Logan watched as Jed left town. The wretched man who had caused her aunt so much pain was finally out of her life. Now she needed to get him out of her head.
“Am I wrong in thinking you came to town looking for me?” Josephine asked softly.
“No, but you mind explainin’ what you were doing in the saloon?”
“Jed got it all wrong. I didn’t go in the saloon. I just took a peek inside.”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
Josephine blew out a frustrated breath. “I stopped at the mercantile for some coffee. Lily couldn’t wait to tell me she heard you were at the saloon. So I went over there to see for myself, okay?”
With a toss of her head, she moved ahead of him, but he grasped the back of her shirt and yanked her back.
“You are the most thickheaded stubborn woman I’ve ever met. When are you going to learn that I don’t want anyone but you?”
“I guess I need to work on my self-confidence. Let’s not talk about Lily or Jed. I’m too happy right now and I don’t want anything to spoil it.”
“You might not be too happy once I get you home,” he said crossly. “You’re in so much trouble, little girl. Daddy needs to teach you a lesson.”
A dreadful longing washed over her. “Logan, we need to talk. I have so much I want to say to you. I’ve been such a fool.”
“It’ll wait until we get home.” He took her by the hand. They walked across the street and were met by Brody and Ella.
Ella hugged Josephine. “Was that awful man your uncle?”
“Yes, it was him. He grabbed me and pulled me into the alleyway. Good thing Logan came by.” She beamed at her husband. Her husband.
Brody shook his head in disbelief. “Marshall’s Creek has always been a quiet little town until you came along, Josephine.”
“If memory serves correct, Ella can stir up a bit of clatter too, so you best keep your eyes open.” Logan winked at Josephine. “Let’s go home, wife.”
Giddy with happiness, Josephine glanced over her shoulder and shouted, “You both must come for supper this Sunday.”
Smiling from ear to ear, Ella waved. “We’ll be there.”