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Standard disclaimer.
Sam Evans managed to close his mouth and made a sweeping bow.
"I'm sorry, Miss Jones, we weren't expecting you."
"Evidently," she said.
She glared at him, although she had to look up to do so. He was tall and wide-shouldered. Dressed in dark jeans, a green tee, with a green plaid short-sleeve shirt over it.
His blonde hair fell over one eye, as he bowed low and his green eyes issued both a challenge and an invitation.
There was something very primitive and very male about him, that made her take a step back.
He had to be one of those Irish rogues her mother had warned her about, no doubt about it, she thought.
"We're gonna need to make some changes. This is no way to run a hotel," she spat.
Around them, men had gathered out of curiosity, and now, a chuckle ran through the crowd.
Mercedes saw nothing funny at all.
A blonde girl in a red satin dress, that was both too short and too tight, swaggered up, swinging her hips. She held a slender cigarette in her hand and smoke encircled her head.
Mercedes could only stare.
She hated to see women smoke.
"Sam, honey," the blonde started, with a sneer on her face. "What's the problem?"
She placed her hand on his broad shoulder, a bit too familiarly, which annoyed Mercedes, although she wasn't sure why.
She glared at the woman.
"This doesn't concern you," she said.
"Why, you…" the blonde started, but Sam caught her arm and said to her,
"Now Quinn, there's been a misunderstanding here. Miss Jones, I think we need to retire to my office and…"
"You've been drinking," Mercedes snapped, cutting Sam off, as she took a sniff of the blonde.
She was acutely aware that she was surrounded by a type of people, she'd never met before, in her very sheltered life. They all looked like rowdies.
"Worse yet, you reek of cheap perfume!" she finished, staring the woman down.
"That ain't cheap perfume!" the blonde put her hand on her hip. "A customer brung that for me, all the way from St. Louie."
"Brought," Mercedes corrected.
"What?" Quinn looked bewildered. Mercedes decided she'd had enough of this nonsense.
"Mr. Evans, I will see you in the lawyer's office in the morning."
"What?" he asked, scratching his head.
"You heard me." She turned to go.
"Tomorrow's Sunday," he said, his eyes twinkling with mirth. He gave her a devilish grin. The crowd laughed and Mercedes felt foolish.
"Then, I shall return Monday, with the lawyer."
She wheeled and held her head high, as she marched out of the Texas Lily. She was close to tears, but anyone with a good background, did not give way to emotion.
Hadn't her dour, cold mother taught her that? But, she was shocked, horrified and downright exhausted, after her long trip.
All her dreams about Texas and a fine hotel, went out the window, when she discovered what she had inherited.
It was obviously a…a…she couldn't even think the word, much less speak it.
And from her own aunt.
She blinked and swallowed hard, as she went out the door and down the steps, into the darkening evening.
'Now I know what that tension was all about, between my mother and Aunt Sue,' she thought.
The Lieutenant hurried to meet her.
"I'm so sorry, Miss Jones. I didn't know how to tell you," he said.
"I'll be fine."
She managed to keep her voice steady, but inside, she was a wreck.
She imagined that pretty Quinn creature, snickering at her, even now.
Is this what she had given up a safe, secure job in Lima for?
"Take me to another hotel. I'll decide what to do later." The Lieutenant helped her into the car, his delicate hands moist.
"I'll have to take you to the nearest motel. I'm sorry, but the nicest hotel burned down last month."
As they drove away, she looked back over her shoulder, at the lights and music streaming from the Texas Lily.
"I had no idea about this place. I was told it was a fine hotel."
"I didn't know how to warn you, Miss Jones. I never go in there myself…it's full of rough louts, typical Texans…and I'd probably lose my job if I did."
She warmed to him even more, as they drove passed the big birdbath and the goat, raising its head, while bleating at them.
"I should have accepted your offer before. It finally came to me, why my mother disapproved of Aunt Sue…and her partner, he looks like a trickster…a rascal of the worst sort."
"Low-class Texas trash!" the Lieutenant agreed. And then, "No one knew you were coming, I presume?"
She shook her head.
"The lawyer emailed me, saying it was a hotel, and that Aunt Sue had left me her half...and that rascal Evans, wanted to buy me out."
"So, do you intend to sell?"
"I…I don't know. I'm not one to run from a fight."
"Perhaps you can buy Evans out," the young officer suggested, as they drove along the quiet street.
"And own a…brothel? I think not. Besides, I don't think I can afford to buy him out."
"Well, there's always been a rumor, that Miss Sue hid a lot of money inside the hotel, somewhere. If you found that, you could certainly afford to buy the place and do whatever you like with it."
"I'm not one to chase after pie in the sky. I'm a realist," she answered sternly.
At the nearest motel, the Lieutenant escorted her in and rang for service.
Seconds later, a young woman appeared at the desk and smiled at the officer.
"Miss Osbourn, this nice lady would like a room in your fine establishment. Can you be so kind as to help her out?"
"Sure. Just give me your name and approximately how long you intend to stay," she said, looking at Mercedes.
Mercedes did as told and was assigned to a room. After handing over her paltry credit card details, she was given a key.
"Who are you in town to visit?" the clerk asked.
"No one, really. I'm here on business."
"Uh…Miss Osbourn, Miss Jones is Sue Sylvester's niece." The clerk's mouth dropped opened and Mercedes wanted to go through the floor.
"I…think, I'd better show you to your room. Do you have luggage?"
"I'll take care of that for you," the Lieutenant said, with an apologetic look on his face.
Mercedes mumbled her thanks and started following the clerk.
She kept her head held high. She couldn't be responsible for what her aunt had done, even if it was the unthinkable. It was humiliating, but she had to get used to it.
Soon everyone will know who she is.
In her genteel poverty, her family's pride was all that had sustained her.
There are so many questions she wanted answered, but, she feared to hear the answers.
"Have you met Sherwin?" the clerk asked.
"I've seen it," Mercedes replied.
The clerk pointed to a picture of an elderly officer. His hair was parted down the middle and he was slightly cross-eyed, with a grey moustache and a scraggly beard.
Mercedes paused and stared at it.
"That's the fort's founder," Miss Osbourn said.
"He really does resemble the goat," Mercedes said without thinking.
"Most people think so. Sherwin's sort of the town's mascot, but mostly, he grazes the lawn and the orange day-lilies out in front of your aunt's place. I presume you've met the handsome devil at the Texas Lily, Sam Evans?"
"That rascal!" Mercedes said, as she followed the clerk.
"But, a charming one. He could convince a sparrow to fly right into a cat's mouth," the clerk said with a sigh.
"I saw nothing charming about him," Mercedes snapped and continued, "I'll have to talk to Mr. Shuester about what my legal options are."
"Will?" the clerk laughed. And then, "If you'd asked around, you'd have probably seen him at one of the poker tables, at the Lily, tonight. He and Mr. Evans are friends."
Mercedes' spirits sagged.
If Mr. Shuester was a good friend of the gambler, he would be no ally to her.
"My dear, the easiest thing to do, would be to sell out to Sam and leave town."
"My mother told me, the Jones family has a proud heritage, dating back years, so I'm not one to cut and run from a low-class Texas hooligan."
"Bravely spoken. I imagine there aren't many women who can stand up against Sam Evans' lure."
"This is one woman who is immune to his oily charm," Mercedes said, sitting down on a bed.
"Shall I leave your luggage here, then?" the Lieutenant asked.
"Yes. Thank you so much for your help. You're my hero," Mercedes said. The officer flushed. He bowed his head and said,
"Goodnight, all," and went back the way he came.
"Sam Evans is a formidable opponent, my dear Miss Jones," the clerk said. With that, she wished Mercedes good night and left her to ponder her next move.
And pondered she did.
She'd like the Texas landscape the train had taken her through, and she'd been excited about a new life and the new career of running a first-class hotel.
And what she'd found, was a slick rascal and a whorehouse.
There she said it…rather...thought it.
How could Aunt Sue have fallen so low? She bit her lip to keep from breaking into sobs and got ready for bed.
Tomorrow, she would decide what to do.
The next morning, Mercedes had her breakfast on the balcony overlooking the garden at the side, where she could admire the roses and other flowers around the lawn.
Usually, her busy mornings, consisted of a cup of weak coffee and a slice of toast, but this morning, thanks to the kind clerk, she was having proper coffee, so strong, it could float a horseshoe.
Along with that, there was steak, scrambled eggs and hot biscuits, with homemade wild plum jelly.
She tried not to gobble, but the food tasted so good.
She was just eating her last biscuit, when the clerk, Miss Osbourn appeared. Mercedes placed her napkin down and smiled.
"Thank you so much. Everything was delicious. Uh…what time is it?" The clerk looked at her phone and said,
"Ten thirty."
"I believe that scoundrel at the Texas Lily, will be up by now." The clerk laughed.
"Sam? I wouldn't bet on it. Do you really want to confront him? Perhaps you should arrange a meeting in Will Shuester's office tomorrow, instead."
"I wanted to, but…I've decided, I would like to get this settled today," Mercedes said, gritting her teeth. She was nothing, if not stubborn.
"Be careful around that handsome gambler. They say he could talk a cow out of her calf, or a dog off a meat wagon."
"I beg your pardon?" Mercedes said.
"Oh honey," the clerk started with a dismissive wave of her hand, "That's Texan for, beware of the rascal's gift of gab. You wouldn't be the first girl Sam's talked into…never mind. Just be careful."
That was food for thought.
'So, Sam Evans is a ladies' man. Humph! I don't see him as charming at all. That officer is more my taste…'
"I need to get over there. Can you arrange a taxi or help me to rent a car?"
"I sure can. You're really going over there this morning?"
"Yes. That's my plan."
"But, it's Sunday, and the girls worked late…" Miss Osbourn saw the disdainful look on Mercedes' face and quickly offered,
"Sorry. They're probably still asleep…all of them and will be 'til noon."
"Good," Mercedes said curtly. And then, "I will wake them up."
She imagined that Texas rascal still soundly asleep and being disturbed by her ringing the bell, over and over. It would serve him right.
A devious smile bloomed on her face, as she pictured Sam Evans' face at her rude awakening.
That's it. I'm anxious to hear from you guys. Remember, keep reading with an opened mind. Much love to you.