Thank you for your kind support.
Standard disclaimer.
A couple hours before the the Town Beautification Committee meeting, Mercedes decided to hit the streets.
It was a nice sunny day, so once again, she decided to walk.
'A nice brisk walk would do me good,' she said to herself. She stopped to pet the ragged old goat, out munching lilies on the front lawn.
"Eat up, Sherwin," she laughed. "I think your meal is better than the one I just had." She strolled off and ran right into Reverend Lovejoy.
"Good day, Miss Jones. I've been a bit worried about you, living up there in the Lily."
"Thank you for your concern, Reverend Lovejoy, but I'm quite alright. Mr. Evans has behaved like a gentleman,"she said, realizing she'd defended the scoundrel.
"Besides, there's a sturdy lock on my door."
"The ladies of this town are behind you one hundred percent. But the men aren't too happy," he said.
"Just what kind of town is this? It doesn't really have a decent hotel, but it has a first-class bordello." He shook his head.
"Like most Texas towns, there's a lot of cowboys and ranchers and not enough women to go around."
"Then, we should invite some respectable women to come and live here."
"Miss Jones, these men aren't looking for respectable women…"
"Well, they should be. She drew her short stature up proudly.
"Nacogdoches will never be a truly peaceful, civilized place, as long as men can have their cake and eat it, too."
"Well said," he agreed, tipping his hat and walking on.
Just then, the lieutenant came out of a general store, with a few bags in his hands, walking a little uncertainly in his heavy boots.
"Miss Jones, a pleasure to see you again." She smiled as he bowed. He was nothing like that sleazy gambler at all, she thought.
"I'm happy to see you, too, Lieutenant."
"I had hoped to see you again, but I don't go into the Texas Lily," he said, drawing himself up proudly.
"It's nice to meet a man, who realizes what a den of evil that place is."
"It's a terrible place for a lady. I've been worried about you. That rascal, Sam Evans…"
"He's been a perfect gentleman." Again, she found herself defending the scoundrel and became annoyed with herself.
"If he does anything to offend you…"
"You'll thrash him?" she asked with a playful smile on her lips.
"Uh…" he hesitated, and then, "Well, I'd probably report him to the police."
"Oh."
For some reason, she was disappointed.
Too many romance novels, where the hero whipped the villain, for daring to even look at the lovely heroine, she thought.
'What was I thinking?' Fisticuffs is uncivilized and besides, she knew the tough Sam Evans would wipe the floor with the lieutenant.
"Let me give you a ride," he offered.
He walked up to the car, opened it and placed his parcels inside. Then, he turned and helped her in. His hands were too soft and too sweaty, she noted.
"I was hoping that low-class gambler would admit defeat and sell out to you. Then you could turn that awful place into a fine mansion and live there."
"You don't understand, Lieutenant. I have a little money, but I couldn't buy him out. Anyway, I certainly couldn't afford to live in such a grand manner."
"Oh."
'Did he sound disappointed?'
"If you found that hidden treasure, you would be a rich woman," he finished. Mercedes' eyebrows rose, but she quickly schooled her features and laughed.
"I think that's just a tale, that's grown and grown. Mr. Evans doesn't seem to think there is any treasure."
"Of course, he would say that, because, no doubt he's looking for it too."
'Of course, he was,' she realized suddenly. That was why he was so eager to hold on to his half and buy her out. She was more determined than ever to keep her share.
The lieutenant drove her back to the hotel, and sat looking about uncertainly.
"Is that gambler inside?"
"I imagine he is. There's a meeting of the Town Beautification Committee here this afternoon."
All of a sudden, he seemed to be in a hurry, as he came around and helped her out of the car.
"I have to go."
He took her hands in his small, damp, soft ones and she couldn't help but compare them to Sam's.
Sherwin raised his head and glared threateningly at them, bleating, lilies hanging from his mouth.
"Terrible, smelly animal," the lieutenant sniffed. "He ought to be barbecued."
"But he's a pet," Mercedes protested.
"Some pet he is. Every time I've ever gotten close to the beast, he's tried to butt me."
Mercedes tried to pull away, but the young officer held her hands and looked at her, his pale eyes earnest.
"Miss Jones, I know we don't know each other very well, but, well, you've stolen my heart."
"What?" She was taken aback. "Lieutenant, I've never done anything to encourage you…"
"Yes, I know. But, I'm still bewitched by you. I hope you would let me call on you…"
"Call on me?"
"Yes. My intentions are very honorable, of course," he hastened to add. "With the object of future matrimony."
"Oh. I…I don't know what to say." She was a bit bewildered.
"Don't say anything yet, my dear Miss Jones. Give it some thought. I've known from the first time I saw you, that we were the same kind of people…well bred and unappreciated in a sea of Texas savages…especially that hooligan, Sam Evans."
In her mind, she saw Sam Evans. His hands weren't soft and moist and he wouldn't stand here like a pantywaist, holding her hands and jabbering on and on. He'd just grab her and kiss her, holding her so tightly, she couldn't breathe.
No doubt kisses from the lieutenant would be chaste and wet.
She wasn't an expert on kissing, but she just knew Sam had to be a good kisser.
"Miss Jones?"
"Yes…I…I'll give it some thought."
"You've made me a very happy man, dear lady." He bent his head and kissed her hand, with a wet kiss, as his wispy moustache brushed along her knuckles.
She almost laughed at the sensation. His hair was thinning on the top, she noted, as he bent over her hand.
"I have been burning with passion, from the moment I saw you."
Mercedes couldn't imagine him burning with anything.
She looked up suddenly, as if something or someone, willed her to. Was that Sam Evans glowering at her, from behind the curtains? He looked like he might come out there at any moment, although she couldn't understand why he looked so annoyed.
"I'd better go in. I think Mr. Evans knows we're out here." The lieutenant blanched. He dropped her hands, ran around the car and clambered in.
"Ta ta," he said, tipping his hat.
He drove away in an unusual hurry, leaving a flabbergasted Mercedes standing there.
She stared after the disappearing vehicle for a long moment. Sherwin seemed to shake his head, bleating again. After a few minutes, she sighed and went inside.
Sam stood in the entry hall, looking as handsome as ever, and also tall and menacing, with his arms crossed over his sturdy chest.
"You let that popinjay give you a ride home?" He seemed angry.
"That's hardly any of your business. The lieutenant is a perfect gentleman."
"Then, he's got you fooled. He used to be one of our best customers."
"I don't believe you!" she snapped, brown eyes blazing. "You're jealous because he's a respectable man, from a respectable family…something you can never be."
His head snapped back, as if she'd struck him and she was suddenly ashamed of herself. He caught her wrist.
"You're right about that, Mercy. I'm just a common guy who's had to fight my way through the world…not had it handed to me on a silver platter, like the lieutenant has."
"I…I'm sorry. That was rude of me."
She tried to pull away from him. His grip was so much stronger and much more masculine than the officer's.
The way he was glaring down at her, made her freeze her actions and stare up into his intense green eyes, now a shade darker.
Electricity seemed to crackle like lightning around them.
For a split second, she thought he was going to kiss her and she held her breath.
If she wanted to be free, all she had to do was slap him, or insult him again. Yet, she only stared up at him, waiting.
Instead, he chuckled and turned her loose.
"The lieutenant is after your half, don't you see that?" She felt stung.
"Is it so unbelievable that he might actually like me?" He shrugged.
"Don't be fooled, Mercy. You can do better."
"Maybe not…at least, not among these uncivilized southerners."
She flung her head back and marched up the stairs.
Mercedes sat on her bed, trembling and trying to compose herself, remembering the power of Sam's hand on her wrist.
He had been close enough for her to smell his aftershave, and a scent so wonderfully his.
Fern stuck her head in the door.
"The men are arriving downstairs. Are we still serving cake and tea?"
"Yes, of course, Fern. It'll be a good learning experience."
She got up and started downstairs, even though she dreaded facing Sam again.
The men were standing around a poker table awkwardly.
"Gentlemen," she politely said, and all answered respectfully, like young schoolboys. She gestured to the girls, who set out a slightly burnt cake and teacups.
"Have a seat, gentlemen, and I'll pour," she said.
They did as told and fell into their chairs.
One of the men, by the name of Pug, looked at the tiny cup, as it was filled with tea.
"What the hell is this?" Sam's face turned stony.
"Hush up and drink your tea, Pug. Don't hurt the ladies' feelings."
"Ladies?" Luke grinned, but Sam gave him a hard look and he immediately shut up.
Mercedes shot him a look of gratitude and he nodded. Then, the ladies proudly served their cake around the table, while the men stared at the burnt offering askance.
After a while, Mercedes murmured instructions to her girls and shooed them out of the room.
"Are you gonna stay for the meeting, Miss Jones?" Pug asked.
"Would you like me to?" The men looked at each other, as if they didn't know what to say.
The doorbell rang and Carmen escorted the lieutenant's senior into the room. He came to stand in front of Mercedes with a bunch of roses in his hand and offered them to her.
"Thank you, Major." She buried her face in the red blossoms and sniffed their sweet scent.
"Uh…Miss Jones," Sam said, glaring at her. "This is really a men's meeting."
"Then, why isn't Reverend Lovejoy here?" she challenged. "He's an important man of the community."
"Hmm," said someone and they all looked at Sam. He sighed.
"The reverend is rather inflexible on some things…"
"Principles?" she asked archly. Carmen re-entered the room again and Mercedes handed her the flowers and said, "Please put these in some water."
Sam shot her a murderous look.
"Be reasonable, Miss Jones. We can't invite a preacher to a gambling house, where we're gonna be having a drink…that is…after we drink your nice tea and eat the cake the ladies made."
The others look dubious. Mercedes paused and Sam took that as a cue for her leaving.
"Gentlemen, let's get down to business. I think Miss Jones was just leaving us," he said, gesturing.
"No, I'm not!" She pulled out a chair and the Major rushed to aid her.
Carmen had left with the roses and returned with a big plate of sandwiches and homemade pickles. She dashed out and returned again with another big platter of ribs.
"Just in case you men need something more than cake and tea. I also have deviled eggs and potato salad," she said.
The men dived in, like they hadn't eaten in a week. Some wiping their faces on their sleeves.
"I have napkins," Mercedes offered.
"Miss Jones, we are doing just fine, thank you very much," Sam said. He shot her another annoyed look.
"Mmm," sighed one of the men, who was more than a little pudgy. "Did you barbecue this yourself, Sam?"
"Course he did. Can't nobody beat Mr. Sam when it comes to barbecuing," Carmen said,proudly.
Luke the locksmith, had his mouth full, as he turned and spoke to Mercedes.
"How's that lock working for you, Miss?"
"Just fine. Thank you."
"It ain't like nobody's trying to break her door down to get in," Sam said.
"No one would dare," she tossed at him, glaring.
"Miss Jones, don't you have some mending to do?" Sam tried again.
"I think I'll stay for the meeting, since I'm part owner of a business in this town."
The other men all looked uncertainly at her and then at Sam. He was taking deep breaths.
"Carmen, please bring me some iced tea," Mercedes said.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Are you sure you want to stay?" Sam asked, as he finished his sandwich and wiped his face on his sleeve. She winced at his manners or the lack thereof.
"I said I was, didn't I?"
Luke looked longingly towards the stairs, where the NO ADMITTANCE sign still hung.
"Where'd the girls go?" he asked.
"I sent them out on a nature walk, taking pictures and what not," Mercedes said."
"What?" all the men said in unison. Sam shrugged and said,
"Must be something, prissy ladies do in Lima."
"But them ain't ladies," Pug said and then, "They's wh…"
"Shut up Pug!" Sam thundered. "If Miss Jones says they are ladies, they are ladies."
"Anything you say, Sam." Pug looked as puzzled, as the other men.
Mercedes warmed to Sam and sent him a look of gratitude for the second time that evening. Like Sir Galahad, he could be very courtly. Sam shrugged.
"It ain't my doing. The Lily's still got good liquor and gambling."
"But no girls." White haired Doc Miller sighed.
"Well, as much as I hate to give a plug to the competition, Quinn has moved down to the Bucket O' Blood," Sam said. There was a collective gasp.
He dug into his chocolate cake and winced as he took a bite.
"Miss Jones is gonna reform the rest of them and marry them off," he finished.
"That's cruel to every man in the county," Will declared and all the men looked at her, like she'd stomped on a baby rabbit.
Carmen came in to bring Mercedes a tall glass of iced tea and carry away the plates, as the men finished, breaking some of the tension.
"Before we get started. I'll mix up some mint juleps," Sam said. He got up and went over to the bar.
"You'd better mix a big pitcher," the Major warned. "We've got a serious problem."
"In that case, I'll make enough to last until evening," Sam grinned.
"I don't know how much serious work you can get done, if everyone gets snockered," Mercedes said. Again, they all looked at her. And Sam said,
"We're southerners...Texans...and Texans think better, when they've had a few drinks to oil them."
"Remember the Alamo," Will said reverently and they all scrambled to their feet, hands over their hearts and tears in their eyes.
"Is it such a big deal?" Mercedes asked and again, they looked at her, this time in horror.
"Tsk, tsk." Sam brought over a tray of drinks to the table. "Miss Jones, people have been lynched for less than that. Even southern babies knows the significance of the Alamo. Remind me to educate you later."
He passed the drinks around and smiled at her.
"Would you like one?" he asked.
"No, thank you."
She sipped her iced tea and begun to wish she'd skipped this meeting.
Whatever was going on, she probably wasn't going to approve, anyway.
My cousin Patrick was laid to rest yesterday. He was such a nice guy. May his soul rest in peace. Until next chapter, much love to you.