instances these things do take time.”
“How much time?” Dianna asked.
“Well, I’ve seen many past examples of trauma to the wounded mind that refused treatment. ’Course that was during the War of Yankee Oppression—a time of unparalleled human destruction and murderous slaughter. Still, even doctors with considerable training can’t accurately foretell the exact outcome for certain. I’d venture an educated guess, though, and say the lady should recover, and be made whole again, in pretty short order.”
After seeing to our animals, Dianna and I hit the street in search of a hotel room. We strolled along the boardwalk and she said, “The more I think on it, a night in a real bed would be most agreeable—a skin-singeing bath even more so.”
I flicked a furtive glance in the dazzling girl’s direction. The overpowering thought of her completely naked body engulfed my every conscious thought.
Of course, we took separate rooms at the Lone Star Hotel and Boarding House located a block away from the jail and across Front Street. Had hoped Dianna’s room would be nearer mine, but the desk clerk claimed only limited vacancies at the time. She set up residence near the stairway landing on the second floor, while I had to throw my bedroll in a room several doors farther down the hall. After some consideration, I came to feel that the separation amounted to nothing more than a minor irritation. Wished later I’d thought a bit more on the subject.
Two days after our arrival, Mrs. Wainwright’s situation had improved enough that we decided to continue on to Uvalde and points south come the following morning. Had lunch in the hotel with Dianna that afternoon. Lady implored me to bathe myself and shave for a special evening she had planned. Flattered by the mysterious request, I agreed to her terms.
’Course all kinds of wicked thoughts flew through my heaving mind. While our relationship had started out well when we first met, her son’s brutal death, and the events surrounding the chase, had thrown water on those initial embers of passion. Couldn’t imagine what she intended.
Once Dianna had tended to her twa-let that evening, and freshened herself to the utmost in man-slaying appearance, she tapped on my door. When I opened it, she took my arm and said, “Come along, Ranger Dodge. I’ve discovered the location of a well-recommended restaurant and would like to buy you dinner.”
My God, but she was a glorious thing to look upon. Her dusky beauty entranced me in a way that made it hard to breathe, much less concentrate. From somewhere amidst the load she’d placed on our mule, a flattering, bone-colored dress, accented by a navy-blue shawl trimmed in red, had magically appeared. As my dear ole daddy liked to say, “Lucius, ’at ’ere gal is purdyer’n a fresh-painted wagon.”
Did my level best to act surprised and noble. Wasn’t difficult. “You needn’t do that, Mrs. Savage. I’d be most happy to stand for the two of us to have a good meal.”
She looped her arm through mine and pulled me into the hall. “You will do no such thing. Come along now. A grand evening awaits Willow Junction’s hungry sojourners at Jewel’s Café.”
Not often you found a place like Jewel’s in the wilds of Texas back in them days. Block or so down from the hotel, the completely out-of-place but elegant restaurant sported starched white tablecloths, vases of handpicked wildflowers, and an actual printed menu that came to the table in a slender, leather-bound jacket.
No blackboard scribblin’s in that joint. No sir-ree bob, sir. Hand-lettered in beautifully done script, the heavy vellum bill of fare was clean, crisp, and appeared to change every day. My crude upbringing had me feeling like a rooster at a convention for a pack of wolves.
A smartly dressed waiter, who sported a black bow tie and brocaded silk vest, led the way to a choice table in the farthest corner. Man made quite a production of lighting the
“How much time?” Dianna asked.
“Well, I’ve seen many past examples of trauma to the wounded mind that refused treatment. ’Course that was during the War of Yankee Oppression—a time of unparalleled human destruction and murderous slaughter. Still, even doctors with considerable training can’t accurately foretell the exact outcome for certain. I’d venture an educated guess, though, and say the lady should recover, and be made whole again, in pretty short order.”
After seeing to our animals, Dianna and I hit the street in search of a hotel room. We strolled along the boardwalk and she said, “The more I think on it, a night in a real bed would be most agreeable—a skin-singeing bath even more so.”
I flicked a furtive glance in the dazzling girl’s direction. The overpowering thought of her completely naked body engulfed my every conscious thought.
Of course, we took separate rooms at the Lone Star Hotel and Boarding House located a block away from the jail and across Front Street. Had hoped Dianna’s room would be nearer mine, but the desk clerk claimed only limited vacancies at the time. She set up residence near the stairway landing on the second floor, while I had to throw my bedroll in a room several doors farther down the hall. After some consideration, I came to feel that the separation amounted to nothing more than a minor irritation. Wished later I’d thought a bit more on the subject.
Two days after our arrival, Mrs. Wainwright’s situation had improved enough that we decided to continue on to Uvalde and points south come the following morning. Had lunch in the hotel with Dianna that afternoon. Lady implored me to bathe myself and shave for a special evening she had planned. Flattered by the mysterious request, I agreed to her terms.
’Course all kinds of wicked thoughts flew through my heaving mind. While our relationship had started out well when we first met, her son’s brutal death, and the events surrounding the chase, had thrown water on those initial embers of passion. Couldn’t imagine what she intended.
Once Dianna had tended to her twa-let that evening, and freshened herself to the utmost in man-slaying appearance, she tapped on my door. When I opened it, she took my arm and said, “Come along, Ranger Dodge. I’ve discovered the location of a well-recommended restaurant and would like to buy you dinner.”
My God, but she was a glorious thing to look upon. Her dusky beauty entranced me in a way that made it hard to breathe, much less concentrate. From somewhere amidst the load she’d placed on our mule, a flattering, bone-colored dress, accented by a navy-blue shawl trimmed in red, had magically appeared. As my dear ole daddy liked to say, “Lucius, ’at ’ere gal is purdyer’n a fresh-painted wagon.”
Did my level best to act surprised and noble. Wasn’t difficult. “You needn’t do that, Mrs. Savage. I’d be most happy to stand for the two of us to have a good meal.”
She looped her arm through mine and pulled me into the hall. “You will do no such thing. Come along now. A grand evening awaits Willow Junction’s hungry sojourners at Jewel’s Café.”
Not often you found a place like Jewel’s in the wilds of Texas back in them days. Block or so down from the hotel, the completely out-of-place but elegant restaurant sported starched white tablecloths, vases of handpicked wildflowers, and an actual printed menu that came to the table in a slender, leather-bound jacket.
No blackboard scribblin’s in that joint. No sir-ree bob, sir. Hand-lettered in beautifully done script, the heavy vellum bill of fare was clean, crisp, and appeared to change every day. My crude upbringing had me feeling like a rooster at a convention for a pack of wolves.
A smartly dressed waiter, who sported a black bow tie and brocaded silk vest, led the way to a choice table in the farthest corner. Man made quite a production of lighting the
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