to them, picking up long strips of what used to be a shirt. Water puddled about the wooden floor. A few iridescent soap bubbles shimmered and swayed.
This didn’t make sense. Where would she go this time of night? Didn’t he suggest she stay in the room? Didn’t he make arrangements so she could do just that?
Tattered white curtains blew in the breeze. They seemed to beckon him. Slowly Kade moved toward them, trying to wade through the mud in his mind and grasp a persistent thought that eluded him. He stood at the window, grateful for the cool, fresh air.
The street below appeared deserted. He had no idea how late the hour, but he felt sure most of Destiny’s inhabitants had found their way to a bed. Bending over the sill, Kade let his gaze travel the length of the thoroughfare. With a deep breath, he straightened.
Something caught his attention. Leaning back outside, he noticed the trellis.
His thoughts rode the fresh night air like feathers in the wind. Carl, gone. So were her new clothes. If Clive hadn’t seen her, she didn’t use the stairs. And if she didn’t use the stairs . . . that meant she was sneaking out, so Kade wouldn’t know.
“Why you little, ungrateful . . .” He swiveled and kicked a nearby chair, sending it crashing to the floor. “After all the trouble you’ve been! I risk my neck to save your life, delay my travels so I can help you, spend my money on—”
A sudden realization halted Kade in mid-tirade. Wait a minute. What am I so upset about? This is what I wanted. To be rid of Carl, or whoever she is. Now I can get on to Texas and . . . .
He stopped and rubbed his temples. The effects of the whiskey were clearing quickly, but he still had trouble holding on to distant thoughts.
What would she do? She had no money, no sense, no one to help her. There was no way out of Destiny, and Destiny was in no way a place for a girl like Carl.
Pacing the small room, Kade reasoned with himself. What do I care? She’s not my responsibility. She’s most likely a full-grown woman who can look out for herself. Besides, if she’s fool enough to run off in the middle of the night, she deserves what she gets.
He stopped his pacing and stared at the undershirt he’d given her. “Damn! Damn that woman’s tender white hide.”
Kade stormed down the stairs and surprised Ruby as she pulled the parlor doors shut. “Did you see the wo—, uh, boy I rode in with? He’s not in his room. It’s a bit late for him to be roamin’ the streets, and—”
Ruby placed a hand on his forearm. “You’re right to worry. Destiny’s dark streets are no place for an unprotected young lady.”
Studying her expression, Kade realized she wasn’t just guessing as Clive had tried to do. She knew. Ruby knew Carl was a woman. Damn! How come everybody knew but him?
“It’ll be our little secret, sugar. And, no, I don’t know where she is. Let me check with the girls, see if they heard or saw anything.”
With a rustle of petticoats, she turned and left. Kade strode to the hotel doors and peered out. All was quiet. Not even a cat on the prowl roamed the dusty roadway.
Ruby joined him on the plank walk. “Mae saw her shinny down the trellis about an hour ago. Didn’t pay her much mind, though, being busy with a customer and all. Thought she headed toward the livery.”
Placing her fists on her rounded hips, she continued. “If that’s the case, you’d best be trackin’ her. Fletcher and ol’ Buck sometimes take a bottle to the loft, when they don’t get a turn with the girls. And they’re a mean pair, they are. If they were to find out her secret—”
Her last words died on the breeze. Kade’s long legs had carried him halfway up the street in the direction Ruby indicated. He told himself to turn around, that he didn’t care what happened to Carl. But some part of him wouldn’t let himself do that, and that part propelled him forward faster. Deep within, he knew that the mysterious little
This didn’t make sense. Where would she go this time of night? Didn’t he suggest she stay in the room? Didn’t he make arrangements so she could do just that?
Tattered white curtains blew in the breeze. They seemed to beckon him. Slowly Kade moved toward them, trying to wade through the mud in his mind and grasp a persistent thought that eluded him. He stood at the window, grateful for the cool, fresh air.
The street below appeared deserted. He had no idea how late the hour, but he felt sure most of Destiny’s inhabitants had found their way to a bed. Bending over the sill, Kade let his gaze travel the length of the thoroughfare. With a deep breath, he straightened.
Something caught his attention. Leaning back outside, he noticed the trellis.
His thoughts rode the fresh night air like feathers in the wind. Carl, gone. So were her new clothes. If Clive hadn’t seen her, she didn’t use the stairs. And if she didn’t use the stairs . . . that meant she was sneaking out, so Kade wouldn’t know.
“Why you little, ungrateful . . .” He swiveled and kicked a nearby chair, sending it crashing to the floor. “After all the trouble you’ve been! I risk my neck to save your life, delay my travels so I can help you, spend my money on—”
A sudden realization halted Kade in mid-tirade. Wait a minute. What am I so upset about? This is what I wanted. To be rid of Carl, or whoever she is. Now I can get on to Texas and . . . .
He stopped and rubbed his temples. The effects of the whiskey were clearing quickly, but he still had trouble holding on to distant thoughts.
What would she do? She had no money, no sense, no one to help her. There was no way out of Destiny, and Destiny was in no way a place for a girl like Carl.
Pacing the small room, Kade reasoned with himself. What do I care? She’s not my responsibility. She’s most likely a full-grown woman who can look out for herself. Besides, if she’s fool enough to run off in the middle of the night, she deserves what she gets.
He stopped his pacing and stared at the undershirt he’d given her. “Damn! Damn that woman’s tender white hide.”
Kade stormed down the stairs and surprised Ruby as she pulled the parlor doors shut. “Did you see the wo—, uh, boy I rode in with? He’s not in his room. It’s a bit late for him to be roamin’ the streets, and—”
Ruby placed a hand on his forearm. “You’re right to worry. Destiny’s dark streets are no place for an unprotected young lady.”
Studying her expression, Kade realized she wasn’t just guessing as Clive had tried to do. She knew. Ruby knew Carl was a woman. Damn! How come everybody knew but him?
“It’ll be our little secret, sugar. And, no, I don’t know where she is. Let me check with the girls, see if they heard or saw anything.”
With a rustle of petticoats, she turned and left. Kade strode to the hotel doors and peered out. All was quiet. Not even a cat on the prowl roamed the dusty roadway.
Ruby joined him on the plank walk. “Mae saw her shinny down the trellis about an hour ago. Didn’t pay her much mind, though, being busy with a customer and all. Thought she headed toward the livery.”
Placing her fists on her rounded hips, she continued. “If that’s the case, you’d best be trackin’ her. Fletcher and ol’ Buck sometimes take a bottle to the loft, when they don’t get a turn with the girls. And they’re a mean pair, they are. If they were to find out her secret—”
Her last words died on the breeze. Kade’s long legs had carried him halfway up the street in the direction Ruby indicated. He told himself to turn around, that he didn’t care what happened to Carl. But some part of him wouldn’t let himself do that, and that part propelled him forward faster. Deep within, he knew that the mysterious little
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