Compromised Cowgirl (27 page)

“Ace, Sin, and Henry have a lot to prove to beat the love of a good horse,” said Beth.

“I need to borrow your wagon,” said Trace to Amelia. “I want my wife on my land, naked, so I can prove I’m better than a horse.”

“Help yourself,” said Amelia, smiling.

“I will. And Amelia?”

“Yes?”

“When I passed Gil, he told me to say he and
Nev
need you out in the meadow. He said to bring a blanket and some sweet oil.”

Amelia’s face turned pink. She gave an absent wave to Beth and Trace and scurried to gather what she needed.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“I’m going with you to rescue Molly Sinclair.”

“Absolutely not!” Ace jabbed his finger at Jessie. “You will stay with Beth and Amelia.”

Jessie slipped her slim knife from her sleeve into her right hand. She held the tip and dug a sliver out of her left palm. When she was satisfied she raised her left hand, palm facing toward herself. She inspected it nonchalantly.

“You see a ring on this hand, Mr. Kenrick bloody Langford?”

“Jessie, it’s not safe—”

Though she was surrounded by five large brothers from the Rocking E, three loyal cousins from the MD Connected, three lovers from the Double Diamond, and another three big men from the Circle C, she put her fists on her hips and read them the riot act.

“You’re not my husband, or my father. I found Molly’s family, and I’m going to be the one who tells her that.” She met his icy glare with one of her own.

“Actually, it would be a good idea to have a woman in the room when you burst in,” said Sin before Gillis could build up to a roar. “We have to get Molly out quickly and quietly. She’ll be frightened, and Jessie might be able to calm her.”

Jessie snorted. The frowns on Trace’s and Ace’s faces would curdle milk. But Sin was right, and they knew it. According to Frederick Smythe, the Sinclairs sold their ranch to him over a year ago. Miss Lily said Molly had only appeared in the
Bannack
City
brothel about ten days earlier. They were still trying to sell her as a virgin, but she might be far too frightened to go anywhere with a man. Either that or her captors had hurt her so much she’d be fearful of leaving in case she was brought back and worse happened.

In either case, whether they wanted it or not, Jessie was part of this rescue.

“What if I hire Molly for my virgin son for the night,” asked Henry. “I can insist on waiting outside the room to let Jessie have his time. Meanwhile, Jessie can get Molly dressed in a set of her boy clothes.”

Luke nodded. “Gabe and I will come in through the attic when the fight starts. If Molly’s calm and looks like a boy, we can walk away once we’re back on the ground. How long do you think you’ll be able to keep fighting?”

Trace looked at Ace while Ranger checked out Sin.

“I think we can keep the momentum going for long enough,” growled Trace. He flexed his hand open and closed as if preparing for a punch. “You game?”

“It would be my utmost pleasure to convince you of a few important things,” murmured Ace. “This way, we won’t need to meet by Baldy’s Saloon and waste a day showing you up.”

Ranger and Sin sized each other up. Sin topped Ranger by three inches and was eager to prove he was worth Jessie’s attention. Ranger, however, had to show he could protect his sister and keep up the proud Elliott name. No one had bested an Elliott in a fair fight over the years, and Ranger wanted to keep the record unblemished.

Jessie rolled her eyes at the posturing between her brothers and lovers. Luke winked and Gabe nodded solemnly.

“I wouldn’t mind joining in for some fun,” said Ross. Nevin nodded.

“Ye are the cavalry,” said Gillis, “ready to step in if yer needed upstairs.” He glowered at Ace and Sin. “If ye stay alert, ’twouldn’t matter if ye broke a few heads.”

“Jessie and I will leave immediately and get settled,” said Henry.

“You’ve got enough gold?”

“Yes,” said Henry. He patted his pocket where he’d placed the bag of gold dust Trace had given him. Ten ounces, two hundred dollars. “I hope this doesn’t take all your gold.”

“It’s just crushed rocks,” said Trace. He leaned forward to emphasize his point. “When you dicker for Molly, make it look good. Let them think you really want to do this for your son but that virgin is so damned expensive. Jessie will poke you to say he wants Molly no matter what. Since you’re going to get to use her as well, it’s not a bad price for a nice piece of tail.” He wiped his fingers over his mouth as if to wash away the ugly words. “Use the whole thing if you need to. That little girl’s life is worth it.”

“We can’t save them all,” said Ross quietly. “But we’re going to save Molly.”

The men nodded solemnly, knowing Ross lost his young cousin to rape and murder. Though three of her attackers were dead, Ross kept an eye out for the fourth. He swore the last would take a very long time to die.

A few more final details and Jessie climbed up beside Henry. He slapped the reins and the horses started off. Jessie held on as the empty wagon rattled along. They were to bring back a load of fine wine and brandy for Miss Lily’s Parlor. There was a false bottom where Molly would be hidden. Jessie knew if Molly went in there, she’d go as well so the girl would feel safer.

Lily and Rosa told everyone not to expect Molly to trust anyone for a long, long time, if ever. Most of the town would do whatever they could to help the girl find as normal a life as possible. Some, led by Eudora Jennett, the banker’s righteous wife, already spouted it was Molly’s fault.

Molly would stay with Lily and Rosa for as long as she wished. She would see no prurient, pitying looks there.

* * * *

Henry flashed his poke while he paid for his drinks. He insisted his shy boy drink as well, though it was beer to Henry’s whiskey. He pointed out various fancy ladies to his son, who shook his head each time. Meanwhile, Trace and Ranger settled with their backs to the near wall.

Jessie gasped when a pretty girl with long, blond hair walked along the balcony at the top of the stairs. A large man stood behind her, one hand on her shoulder. It might look as if he just rested it there, but Jessie saw how the thin fabric of the girl’s white dress crumpled under the strain. The girl smiled and waved.

“Poppa, I want that one!” Jessie poked “his” father and pointed to Molly.

Henry laughed and slapped Jessie on the shoulder. “Knew you’d find one ya liked. That’s my boy!” He grinned and nodded as if he was half-sloshed. He looked around for someone in charge.

“My boy’s fourteen. About time he lost his cherry,” he yelled. “That girl the virgin I heered about? I want him to pop a cherry his first time.” He slapped Jessie again. “Get two cherries in one, eh, boy?” He laughed at his own joke.

An enormous woman draped in deep red satin waved her hand to the bartender in some sort of signal. She smiled like a spider spinning a web and ran her fingernail under Jessie’s chin. Jessie jerked her head away from the claw. She pressed her hand on her stomach. The stench of the men around them was bad enough without the woman’s attempt to use strong perfume to cover her smell.

“Virgins are mighty dear,” replied the hard-eyed owner. “It’ll cost you a hundred dollars in gold for that cherry.”

“A hundred dollars?” Henry gasped and frowned at the same time.

“But she’s worth it. Don’t you think?”

She pointed to the stairs. Molly smiled down at Henry. Her smile was wide but forced. The man behind her moved his arm, and Molly winced but smiled again and waved at Jessie.

“She’s real pretty,” said Jessie. She stared, gawking with her mouth open as she had for her first few days in
Virginia
.

“You want your son’s first time to be special,” purred the madam. She tugged on Henry’s arm. “He’ll thank you the rest of his life.” She trilled the fake laugh Jessie had been forced to practice. “He may never find another virgin in his entire life.”

Henry stared up at Molly and rubbed his stubbled chin. He looked at Jessie, who gave a pleading look.

“Well, if we have her for the night, I can use her as well.” He shifted his eyes to the madam and smiled. “After the boy has her, I can show her what a man can do to make a woman really smile.”

“If you’re both having her, it’s another fifty dollars.”

Henry stuck his hand in his pocket. He fingered the bag of gold dust, looking up at Molly.

“She sure is pretty. You sure she’s a virgin?”

“Yes, but she won’t be after your son is finished with her.”

“If he’s my son, he won’t be finished until breakfast.”

Henry laughed, loud and strong as if it was the best joke. Jessie dropped her head and shuffled her feet, pretending shy eagerness. She made sure her coat was closed to hide the lack of erection which every man in the place likely sported. Henry was hard and eager, thanks to Jessie’s handy encouragement before they went in the saloon.

“One hundred and fifty dollars for both of you. All night long.” The madam tilted her head. The man turned Molly around and pushed her through the curtain that masked the hallway to the rooms.

“Nobody better wake us up until breakfast,” said Henry. “I been waiting a long time for a woman.”

He pulled the bag of dust out of his pocket. The madam nodded and led them to the bar. They weighed out the gold dust, leaving little in the bag. Henry pretended to be too drunk and eager to notice the scales were fixed.

Familiar faces came through the open door to the street. If she didn’t know her brothers were good men, she’d be afraid to get near them. Ace and Sin strolled into the saloon as if they owned it, sneering like the upper-crust aristocrats they had been. Ace wore his top hat. Lily warned him it would be destroyed, but he said he had no more use for it. Sin was dressed as a dude as well, though not with the same elegance. She blinked when the sheriff followed behind. Frank Chambers winked at her. He placed his hand over the spot he usually wore his badge.

“Fer Christ’s sake, boys, look what’s crawled into a real man’s saloon!” Ranger pointed at Ace, who sneered back.

No one paid attention as Jessie and Henry went upstairs. They passed through the curtain and into a long hallway. A narrow turkey carpet ran past the closed doors. They walked all the way to the end. The man waited outside the last door. The madam opened the door and let Jessie in.

“Molly, dear, there’s a young man to see you. He and his father want to get to know you better. You’re going to be very nice to them, aren’t you?”

Jessie barely heard the whispered “yes.” Someone shoved her between the shoulders. She stumbled forward, almost falling. Henry and the madam laughed. The door shut behind them. Jessie heard Henry settling on the floor outside the door.

“Don’t be too long in there, Junior,” called Henry. “I’m eager for my turn.”

Jessie waited for it to be quiet before she looked up. Molly stared back for a second then dropped her eyes. She was a bit taller than Jessie, but then, most people were.

“Do you want me to take my dress off now?” Molly’s voice shook along with her body.

Jessie put her finger to her mouth and raised her eyebrows. She looked around the room. A small window, barred, over a bed with only a white bottom sheet. A small table with a white tablecloth and porcelain lamp covered in roses. A washbasin and ewer, also with pink roses, with a white folded towel beside it.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” whispered Jessie. She slipped off her duster and hat, dropping them to the floor.

Molly backed up a step. Her eyes were wide, her chin trembling.

“I’m a girl, too, Jessie Elliott. You know my brother, Simon Elliott. He said he used to pull your braid and give you and your brother peppermint sticks when he saw you at the Tanner’s Ford Mercantile. Henry’s not my father, he’s the partner of my fiancé. We’re going to take you home.”

Molly gasped. She backed up a step and shook her head. “They’ll hurt me lots and lots if I try to escape. One girl tried it last week. She screamed for hours.” She bit her trembling lip and swallowed. “There’s this man who likes to hurt girls. Sarah said one paid a lot of money to do whatever he wanted. He beat her to death.”

“Then we’d better get you out of here fast.”

Jessie undid her top shirt and pulled it off. She sat on the floor to take off her boots and then shucked the second pair of pants she wore over her own. Because the clothes were a bit big, they’d cover Molly. Since Jessie’s feet were small, Molly would have to go barefoot, but lots of boys did in summer.

“I’ll turn my back while you put on these clothes. In a few minutes there’s going to be a big fight downstairs. There’ll be lots of smashing and yelling and all. That’s when the others will come in through the roof. They’ll take us out that way.”

She held out the clothes to Molly. She made sure to stay back, following
Rosa
’s orders. Downstairs a deep bellow rang out. Something large made of glass was smashed.

“That’s my big brother, Trace,” said Jessie proudly.

“I know the Elliotts,” whispered Molly. She reached out her hand. Jessie handed her the shirt and pants.