Mail Order Baron (The Brides of Tombstone Book 3) by Cynthia Woolf Page A

husband.”
    “That’s right nice of you, Mrs. King. Right nice, indeed. Come on with me.”
    They went into the hall where Gil was standing guard, dressed as always in a black three-piece suit and perfectly tied cravat.
    “Gil, we are going to the Jewel. Will you please escort us?”
    A frown marred his forehead. “I…I don’t think Mr. King would want you to go there, ma’am.”
    “Well, since I’m going with Trixie, I guess you don’t have any choice but to escort us.”
    “I guess I don’t. This is against my better judgment. You be sure and tell the boss I said so.” He slammed his Stetson on his head. “He told me to stick to you whenever you went anywhere, so let’s go.”
    They walked to the south end of Main Street, then turned left and went two more blocks. This was a part of town Molly hadn’t been to. The farther west they went the shabbier the buildings became. There were no trees and the sun beat down on her. Now she wished she’d worn one of her light seersucker dresses rather than the heavy purple silk.
    The Jewel was on the north side of the street. The building, one of the better kept, was two-stories, white-washed with a plain wooden sign proclaiming it The Jewel.
    Trixie led the way.
    Molly followed with Gil behind her. Upon entry, she noticed that all the women, girls really, were scantily clad, wearing only chemises or corsets and petticoats. The men sat at tables drinking or sometimes one of them would grab a girls hand and they’d go upstairs.
    A chill ran over her skin at the realization she was in a whorehouse. She’d never been in one before, but she was sure this was a brothel and was a bit surprised to find that her husband owned one. Nevertheless she was here to convince an injured woman to see the doctor.
    She recognized, Sam Bennett, one of the managers she’d been introduced to on her first day here. She hadn’t known what Sam managed; she assumed it was one of the saloons or the bank. He wore a three-piece suit with a perfectly tied cravat and slicked back hair. He didn’t dress any differently than Ben or Gil.
    “Mrs. King.” Sam rushed over. “What are you doing here? Does Ben know you’re here? No, of course, he doesn’t. He would never let you come here. Gil, take her back home.”
    “No, Gil. I’m here to talk to Joanie and I’m going to do that before I leave.” Molly turned to Trixie. “Show me to her room, please.”
    Trixie pointed upstairs. On the balcony stood Matt Reynolds, knocking on a door. “Joanie, it’s Doctor Reynolds, please let me in.”
    “Go away” said a voice from inside the room.
    Molly walked up to the door and knocked. “Joanie, this is Molly King, Ben is my husband. May I come in? Please?”
    “Okay, but just you.”
    “Okay, just me.” She looked over that the doctor. “Don’t leave Matt, I’ll get her to let you in.”
    He nodded. “All right.”
    Molly entered the room.
    Joanie stayed behind the door and shutting and locking it right after Molly entered.
    Molly turned and faced the young woman, who appeared to be about seventeen. “Hello, Joanie. I’m Molly, Ben’s wife. I understand you’re hurt. Let me see your injury.
    Joanie slowly turned.
    Molly gasped.
    The girls face was black and blue and her eye swollen shut. She looked to have been beaten severely.
    “Joanie, you need to let the doctor in here to help you. Are you injured any place else?”
    She shook her head and sat on the edge of the bed. “My face took the worst of it. Tommy didn’t mean it. He’s the man who done it. I don’t want Ben to go lookin’ for Tommy. I know Ben likes to protect us, but I don’t want Tommy hurt. He promised he’d leave town. He’s real sorry Mrs. King. Really he is.”
    Molly wanted to take the man and give him the same treatment he’d given this girl, but Joanie was terrified that Ben would hurt the man. The girl needed to see the doctor and the only way she would was Molly’s promise not to let Ben go after the