Page 46 of The Saloon Girl's Only Shot

“Yes.” Elmer’s voice wobbled into capitulation, but he rallied up a smile. “Here you are, free and clear, as promised.” He offered Owen a sheet of fine linen paper with a pair of skeleton keys tied together with twine. “You’ll take care of that other matter today?”

Owen looked over the certificate as if he were reading every word.

“You know, Mr. Greenly,” Temperance said. “I have assisted my father with all sorts of business through the years, but never once with a land purchase. Would you walk me through what’s involved? I imagine it’s very complicated.”

“For a woman, perhaps, but I’ve been at it for some time. It’s very straightforward for me.”

She wanted to gag, pretending awe at his superior knowledge while he explained the procedure in patronizing tones. She took the certificate from Owen and questioned each line, expressing suitable amazement at his adequate penmanship and his ability to fill in the blanks. Good heavens, what a genius.

“It’s a fascinating occupation. Congratulations on your new purchase, Owen.” She offered him back his certificate. “It sounds as though you need to keep this in a safe place.”

“It can go into the gold vault at Quail’s Creek. I’ll need to run out and fetch enough to square up on all of this.” Owen sent Elmer a look that was vaguely disdainful, then leapt down from the wagon, landing on his feet before her. He met her gaze with one of dry amusement that thanked her for pandering to Elmer’s ego long enough to reassure him he wasn’t being fleeced.

All she really took in was that he had mentioned leaving. An instant sense of abandonment engulfed her.

“I should find Jane.” All that she’d agreed to in the last hour was beginning to sink in. She was staying here in Denver for the winter. With him. As his saloon girl. She needed time to put that straight in her head. “Would you excuse me, gentlemen?”

“Of course. Nice to see you again, Miss Goodrich.”

“Mr. Greenly.” She nodded, unable to lie and say it was nice to see him.

“Temperance,” Owen called with mock annoyance as she turned away. “What kind of saloon girl can’t even serve a man a shot of whiskey when he’s just bought himself a saloon?”

“It’s right there in my name, isn’t it?” She looked back at him from the door. “You knew who you were hiring. There’s no use complaining now.”

“I’ll buy you a drink at Dudley’s,” Elmer offered.

Owen gave Elmer a distracted nod, but he was still looking at her. His mouth was pushed sideways as he tried to suppress a grin. “Find me at the mercantile in an hour or so.”

“I will.” She rolled open the door. The wind immediately had her tucking her elbows into her ribs in a flinch.

“Rose!” Owen called out before she could shut it.

“What?” she asked with exasperation, anxious to be on her way.

“Clarence wants to go with you.”

The dog was looking up at her with hopeful eyes.

“All right, then.” She gave her skirt a pat, inviting him outside with her before she rolled the door shut again.

Clarence trotted along beside her as she hurried to the bridge. She met Jane coming across toward her.

“Oh! That’s good luck. I was coming to look for you,” Temperance said.

“I’ve been so worried about you!” Jane wore thin gloves and clutched a shawl around her head and shoulders. “Where did you sleep?”

“I’m not sure I want to say.” Temperance sent a self-conscious glance to either end of the bridge.

A wagon was rattling up behind her so she took Jane’s elbow. They hurried onto the Auraria side of the bridge where they stepped into the lee of a building that looked as though it would become a merchant of dry goods once it was completed. For now, it awaited glass in the open spaces for the windows and had nothing but hardpacked dirt outside its door.

“You’ll guess when I tell you where I’ll be sleeping from now on, though,” Temperance confided.

“Mr. Stames?” Jane asked in a whisper between concern and scandal. “He left the saloon shortly after you did last night. He didn’t come back.”

“Nothing happened, I swear.” Temperance immediately blushed with guilt. “I mean, he kissed me.” They had kissed each other. She blushed harder. “It didn’t mean anything.” It still bothered her that he had said that. Had she really agreed to work for him? “I’ve made it clear that nothing like that can happen again.” She wanted something like that to happen again.

What was wrong with her?