Chapter 6 – Maybe, Baby

"Flapjacks and coffee," Ginny ordered the next morning as she sat with Frank Carson at Nelda's.

"Same for me, but add bacon," was the bartender's request. Ginny immediately thought of Bret and wondered where he was. She blinked once or twice before forcing her mouth into a smile.

"What?"

"You reminded me of someone, that's all," was her answer.

"Alfie's back this morning, but I called Harry in anyway. That way if we're havin' a good time and come back a little later there won't be any problems." Frank was sitting with his back to the door, so he didn't see Mae walk in, accompanied by a distinguished-looking gray-haired man. Ginny did, and she let out a little gasp that caught Frank's attention and made him turn around. "Well, I'll be darned."

"Do you know the man?"

Carson nodded. "That's Grant Milton. He owns the Kansas City Palace Hotel and the Stockman's Royal Hotel, and several other businesses around town. He's on the city council, too. No wonder Mae never has breakfast with Alfie and the girls."

"So you didn't know about her and Milton?"

"Nope. But the cat's outta the bag now. That's who she's been runnin' off to meet. Grant was married until a couple years ago. His wife got consumption and went to Colorado Springs for treatment, but it was too late. She died a while back. I see he didn't waste any time findin' somebody new. I'm surprised he latched onto Mae, though."

"Why? She's certainly a beautiful woman."

Frank looked stunned. "Oh, there ain't no question about that. But she sure ain't in the same class as Grant Milton. If she's lookin' for a husband, she's barkin' up the wrong tree."

"Because she works in a saloon?" Ginny questioned.

"Because if Grant Milton's gonna marry again, he's gonna marry a woman that'll help his political career. Rumor says he wants to be governor. He can't do that with Mae Townsend for a wife. Keepin' company with her's one thing, marryin' her's somethin' else."

"Maybe she doesn't wanna get married."

Frank broke out in laughter. "Trust me, she does. And Grant Milton would be the perfect husband for her."

Ginny had to ask. "Why?"

"Because . . . " Frank stopped when Mae headed straight for their table.

"Hello, Frank, Sammi Jo. Nice to see you two out and about for a change." Mae's voice was friendly and warm, something she never was in the saloon. "Do you know Grant Milton?"

Milton addressed Frank before tipping his hat to Ginny. "Morning, Carson. Almost didn't recognize you without the bar in front of you. And I'm afraid that I haven't met the gorgeous creature with you yet."

The bartender let a small smile play across his face. "Sammi Jo Withers, this is Grant Milton. He owns several prominent businesses in Kansas City. Sammi Jo joined our family at Lil's almost a month ago."

"And I'm just now hearing about it? Miss Withers, very pleased to make your acquaintance. I'm sorry we haven't been introduced before." With a flourish, Milton took Ginny's hand and kissed the back of it. Mae quickly wiped a look of jealousy off her face.

"That's my fault, I'm afraid. Things have just been so busy . . . " Mae's voice trailed off.

"Yes, well, I shall be in the saloon tonight to remedy the situation. Miss Withers, Mr. Carson, enjoy your breakfast." Milton took Mae by the elbow and guided her to an empty table.

Frank turned to Ginny with an amused look on his face. "Now you've done it. You'll never have a moment's peace around Mae again."

Ginny was frustrated, believing the bartender to be correct. "I didn't do a thing!"

"Yes, you did. You're alive and breathing in Mae's world, and I'm sure she doesn't like it."

"Why would Grant Milton be the perfect husband for Mae Townsend?"

If Frank thought Ginny had forgotten the remark he'd started to clarify, he was mistaken. Before he gave her an answer breakfast came, and it was a few minutes until they were alone at the table again. Carson lowered his voice and explained quietly, "Grant Milton would be the perfect husband for Mae Townsend because he's too old to want children, and Mae can't give him any."

Ginny stopped her fork in mid-air with flapjacks on it. "What? How do you know that?"

He didn't answer her for a minute, and she wondered if he was going to. "You know about Mae gettin' shot one night at Lil's?"

The agent nodded. "I've heard about it, sure."

"And that she almost died?"

Another nod. "You saved her life."

"I saved her alright, but there's been many times since that she's let me know she'd have been better off if I hadn't."

"Why?"

Another minute went by, and when Frank answered the question, his voice was subdued and full of regret. "Because the one thing in life that Mae wanted was to have babies. And now she can't."

"Because she was shot?" Ginny had no idea how long it might take Frank to answer her, but she had to ask. She was surprised when he didn't hesitate.

"Yeah, and she blames me for it."

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They didn't talk about Mae again the rest of the day. Frank had quickly changed the topic and Ginny let it slide; it was evident the subject of Mae's misfortune was a painful one. Instead they'd ridden through Kansas City as the bartender showed her the town – Grant Milton's hotels, the various other saloons, the stockyards full of cattle, and the rapidly expanding community behind the business district. Once they'd seen almost the entire town they rode outside the city; first north and then west, where the grass was green and the stink of cows had faded from the breeze.

Frank was full of information about the town, and he made a pleasant companion. If this wasn't a case she was investigating, and there'd been no Bret Maverick, the bartender was the kind of man she might have found herself interested in. But she was working and, more importantly, deeply involved with the gambler, no matter how stubborn or difficult their relationship might be at times. It hadn't taken long for her to fall under the spell of those dark, black eyes and the slight Texas twang, and even with the way they'd parted she remained firmly enmeshed in his love. There was no doubt in her mind that they'd be together again, and she found herself daydreaming about the man she loved rather than the man she was riding with. She brought herself firmly back to the present and the sound of Frank's voice.

" . . . I always loved this little valley. If I'm real lucky someday I'll be able to buy land here and raise horses."

"You don't wanna be a bartender forever?" There was a slight tone of amusement in Ginny's voice as she asked the question.

"Nope. I wanna find the right girl and get married, raise horses and kids. What about you?"

Ginny had been giving the subject a lot of thought recently, but she kept her own opinions to herself and gave Frank Sammi Jo's ideas on the subject. "I don't know. I like pretty things, I never gave much thought to raisin' kids. I guess . . . with the right man . . . and I sure do love horses."

Carson smiled to himself. He was serious about buying land and raising horses someday. And the woman that was riding with him would surely make beautiful babies. Maybe it would be worthwhile to keep Sammi Jo around after all . . .