It wasn't the safest time of day to be on the street she found herself with the sun not quite up, if there was such a thing as a safe time to be in this section of town. She couldn't erase the feeling that she was somehow being watched either, whether it was her imagination or a real reason to worry she couldn't say, but she was glad when the saloon came into sight.
As she was about to walk into Camille's place of business, she bumped into a gentleman on his way out. He didn't look like the type to frequent this part of town with his fine clothes and the way he seemed to carry himself, but then brothels, saloons, and gambling dens drew all sorts of men from leading citizens with money to throw away to the unknowns who scraped what little they had together to waste it on their vices.
He started to reprimand her but than recognition dawned. "You're not that evangelist woman, are you?"
"I am. Sorry I knocked into you. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. I got a lot on my mind." She didn't mention the fact that he hadn't been minding where he was going either.
"Well, you can bet my daughter won't be attending anymore of your revivals. Bit of a hypocrite, aren't you?"
"So you object to people who associate with women of ill repute?"
"I most certainly do and so would any self-respecting person, especially a lady who purports to be of the cloth."
"Then what were you doing in there?"
He turned red and sputtered, "That's none of your affair."
"I suppose you don't much like Jesus' company either, do you?"
"How dare you try to twist this around. That isn't the same thing at all."
"No? But He was a friend of prostitutes and other objectionable people. Ain't we called to be like Him? To reach out to the unrighteous that they may know righteousness?"
"People just don't feel that way whatever your twisted logic. But I'm going to make sure this makes it into the Missouri Gazette, so other young ladies don't get drawn into your web of deception."
"Your threat don't worry me, but if it makes you feel any better, I'm leaving St. Louis today for a time."
"Good, but don't think that's going to keep the story from running. I got friends on the paper. Good day, madam."
"Good day to you, sir," she returned politely. Then she dismissed the conversation with a shake of her head and hurried in.
Camille was surrounded by a crowd of men, laughing as if she had just heard the funniest thing ever.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Ruth asked.
"You can talk to me anytime you want," said one of the men crassly.
Another man nudged him. "Hush. Can't you tell that's a lady from the way she's dressed."
"Won't be a lady long if she sticks around here," he replied, bringing on another chorus of laughter led by Camille.
"Well, Camille?" Ruth asked.
Camille sighed heavily. "Give me a minute, boys." To Ruth, in a private corner, she said in a cross, Frenchless voice, "This better be good."
"I need your help. Kid's been captured by a man looking to collect the reward on him."
"I was afraid that would happen, but what's that got to do with me?"
"You're the only one I know in St. Louis who cares what happens to Kid. You do still care, don't you?"
"I suppose, but what can I do about it?"
"Kid heard a man say that there was a fellow in here that had been on one of the robbed stagecoaches. If I can find him, I'll have a witness that could remember the robber's height and voice and maybe put Kid in the clear. You must have heard some things yourself about it. Something that will help. Anything."
"Sure I have. I even know who's behind the robberies. Some pimple-faced 17 year old, bragged all about his crimes to one of my girls, but he's left town. You aren't going to find him."
"Will this girl come with me to Franklin and tell the stage company owner that?"
"And have her decide to run away or have you try to convert her? Not on your life."
"Maybe your testimony'll be enough. Will you go with me?"
She laughed harshly. "My, you're the naïve one. Even if I do, they're not going to accept the testimony of someone like me."
"You never know until you try. It's bound to beat doing nothing."
Camille turned her head and sighed heavily. Then she turned back to Ruth. "I don't know which is crazier a preacher lady asking a madame to travel with her, especially when she knows that woman is her husband's ex-lover, or the madame for going. I'm only doing this for Kid."
"I know and we both appreciate it."
"Don't thank me yet. This trip may a waste. Let me go put one of my girls in charge, give her some instructions, and get a few things together. Can you handle yourself until I get back?" she asked, the look saying she didn't believe she could.
"Don't worry about me. I'll just sit right down here and read my Bible. It makes a man hesitate to try anything when he's got to get through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to get to me."
Camille snorted. "I think I'm starting to see why he likes you. I'll be right back."
Ruth sat down and true to her word sought comfort within its pages. Camille didn't take but about 15 minutes.
"We'll take my horses but leave the wagon. Can you ride?" Ruth asked.
"Of course, I can ride."
"Never hurts to ask."
She filled Camille in on all the details she knew on the way to the livery where she gave the liveryman her and Kid's last cent to keep Grace and the wagon until they got back.
"What a beautiful horse," Camille said of Grace.
"She ain't quite ready to be ridden yet. Still a little too young. You'll have to take Kid's horse unless you got one of your own you want to ride."
"What would I need with a horse? I'll take Kid's." She saw Ruth saddling up Carmel. "That's your horse? We ain't going to make good time with that plug."
"I went down by Mr. Morris' house again before I came here. He's got one mule pulling a wagon and the mule looks more broken down than Carmel here. We'll be able to follow easy enough."
"That's a relief. A week in the wilderness with you," Camille said as she mounted Horse. "This ought to be fun."
Ruth was thinking the same thing. She prayed for patience because her nerves were a little frayed already.