CHAPTER 2
That night after the Saloon emptied, Ezra sat pondering his dilemma. He needed to marry, and soon. He would be a fool to let his recently discovered fortune slip through his fingers so easily.
"Inez, could you bring me my whiskey?" he asked wearily, rubbing his eyes.
"Si." The barmaid watched the gambler thoughtfully. She heard snatches of the conversation he had with the two strangers that came to town. Buck then filled in the missing pieces for her. She felt sorry for Ezra; from the way he reacted she assumed he was close to the elderly gentleman and to hear about his passing in such a matter was horrible. On top of that, he had to find a wife in a matter of months in order to secure his inheritance. She shook her head at the absurdity of it. As far as she knew Ezra wasn't interested in any woman in town. He usually spent his time helping his friends, in the Saloon playing cards, or helping her with the business. Though that didn't mean he didn't have someone in another town, but if that were the case why was he acting so sullen now?
"So what do you plan to do, Senior?" she asked, shaking her head to clear the wandering thoughts and sat the whiskey bottle and a shot glass before him.
Ezra looked up at her with a lopsided grin. "I suppose Mr. Wilmington informed you of my situation?"
Inez smiled sheepishly. "Most of it."
His grin faded. "Quite a quandary isn't it? I have been attempting to formulate a list of possible spouses, but it's rather short."
She seated herself next to Ezra. "There is always Mary Travis," she teased.
He shot her a dirty look. "I want to live to spend my inheritance."
Inez laughed. "Widow Potter?"
Ezra shook his head. "As much as I like the woman and her children, she is too old for me and I'm not looking for a ready-made family."
"Blossom?"
"No, for obvious reasons."
"Casey Wells?"
"Far too young. Besides, she is clearly in love with Mr. Dunne."
"Clara Miller?"
"Too shrewish."
"Elizabeth McGee?"
"Too sugary sweet."
"Laura Jones?"
"Please, too overbearing."
"Julia Laughlin?"
"Too many brothers."
"Nicole Frampton?"
"Too easily influenced."
"Cynthia Oldman?"
"Too tall."
"Andrea Sutter?"
"Too short."
Inez sighed. "You're running out of options and you don't have much time. It wouldn't hurt to be a little more…flexible in choosing your future wife."
"Believe me I am. All I want is someone who can be a partner, so to speak. Of course I would give her a portion of the money. And it would be nice to find someone I find myself attracted to." Ezra glanced toward her, but she was staring thoughtfully at the table. He studied her for a moment when it suddenly occurred to him.
"You."
Inez looked up suddenly. "Excuse me?"
"I am surprised it didn't occur to me sooner. It's perfect! I will buy back the Standish Saloon and we can be partners," Ezra smiled, his gold tooth sparkling in the light as the plan fell into place.
"What are you talking about?" Inez replied then she realized what he was saying. "Oh… no!"
"Why?"
"You can honestly sit there and tell me that of all the beautiful 'ladies' in this town you want to marry me, a saloon manager?"
"You are a lady," Ezra insisted firmly, almost angry. "Never let me hear you say otherwise."
Inez look startled from the intensity of his voice.
"I don't know Ezra. We are friends and we work together, it would awkward."
"Granted, it will take some adjustment on both of our parts. But I think because we are already acquainted it will make the adjustment easier."
Inez looked down at her hands as she tapped her fingers lightly against the tabletop. Though she hadn't admitted to anyone she had found herself attracted to the gambler. While it appeared that he was only concerned about himself and taking other people's money, Inez knew there was another side to him. She had on occasion been witness to it, and it was that caring, protective side that drew her to him. But could she pretend to be married to him? She felt there was an attraction between them, but was it enough to make a marriage believable? As his friend she felt obligated to help him, and it seemed she was his last resort. Inez knew she couldn't live with herself if she was the reason that Ezra didn't receive his inheritance.
Ezra sat looking at her. She hadn't said anything right away and he didn't know if that was a good sign or not. He knew that he was asking a lot from her, but the more he thought about it the more he realized that Inez was the only one he could ask to help him with this.
"Okay."
"What?" Ezra asked again, startled from his thought.
"I'll marry you."
