Louisiana Laydown

going to make her way in the world.” She batted her long eyelashes at him, then said, “Isn’t that right, dear?”

“Quite right, Hattie,” Beares said. He seated himself next to her and put a hand on her thigh. “But I think that Mr. Fargo is a smart enough man to realize that there’s quite a bit more going on here than meets the eye.”

“He looks like a dirty cowboy to me,” she said. “But with a bath and some proper clothing, I suspect he’d clean up rather well.”

“I’m not a city man,” Fargo said. “I wear what’s functional out on the trail and not much else.”

“After this week, you’ll be a wealthy man, Mr. Fargo,” Hattie said. “I imagine that you’ll soon get used to the things money can buy: comfortable clothing, good whiskey, beautiful women.”

Trying to turn the tables on her a bit, Fargo grinned lecherously. “The beautiful women part I’ve got licked.”

She smiled in return. “I bet you do. I wonder . . .”

“That’s quite enough of that, Hattie,” Beares interjected. “She’s almost insatiable, Fargo. You’ll have to excuse her more predatory appetites.” He growled at her almost playfully. “We have business to discuss with Mr. Fargo, my dear. We should try to keep to the matter at hand.”

“Of course, Beary,” she said. “Whatever you wish.”

She made the words sound like a promise of other things—things best done in a darkened bedroom—and Beares laughed. “I’ll hold you to that,” he said.

“What business?” Fargo asked. “I’d like to get back to my hotel and get some sleep.”

“Simple,” Beares said. “We want you to work for us, Mr. Fargo. The poker game is far too important to allow Senator Parker or that petty criminal Anderson to win. The future of New Orleans is at stake.”

“I’ve already agreed to work for Senator Parker,” Fargo said evenly. “I told you that.”

“We’re well aware of your arrangement with Senator Parker,” Beares said. “We simply ask that you work for us, too.”

“How so?” Fargo asked. “I’ve already said I’ll keep the game fair.”

“Oh, no,” Hattie said. “This has nothing to do with keeping the game fair. We have something else entirely in mind.”

Fargo suspected as much. They wanted him to double-cross Parker so they could win somehow. “I’m not the kind of man who believes in going back on his word.”

“We expect nothing of the sort,” Beares said. “Your friend H.D. made your reputation in this town since long before your arrival: a man of justice and all that. We want you to do nothing that will violate your word to Senator Parker.”

“Then what do you want?” Fargo asked again, his patience wearing thin. “Just spit it out.”

“We want to hire you to protect us,” Hattie said, leaning forward. “Between Anderson and . . . and David . . . we are constantly under threat of attack. How can the game be fair if my lovely Beary is killed before it even happens?”

“Seems like you’ve got plenty of men to do that,” Fargo said. “And your ‘butler’ Charles—whoever he really is—is a pretty fair hand with a gun himself.”

“Ahh, it’s not for me,” Beares said. “Despite Hattie’s good intentions, I’m perfectly safe. My concern is for her. Should Parker find out about us . . . or if things go badly for him at the game . . . I fear he may do something rash where Hattie is concerned. ” He looked at Fargo earnestly. “I simply want you to look out for her, Fargo. Even a man such as yourself might understand why she is my most prized trophy.”

“She’s something,” Fargo admitted, trying to work his mind around the situation. Something wasn’t right about all of this, but he wasn’t sure what it was. “Again,” he said, “why me? You’ve got plenty of help. Just assign one of them to do it.”

“Parker knows most of my men by sight, Fargo,” Beares explained. “Should he or one of his men try to harm Hattie, he would never suspect that I’ve employed you to keep her safe.”

“Besides,” Hattie added, “you wouldn’t want to see me get hurt, would you, Mr. Fargo?”

“I don’t hold with harming women in general,” Fargo said, thinking again of H.D.’s words and wondering if Hattie was more snake than human. “And what will you pay me for this?” he asked, playing for time.

“We’ve considered that,” Beares said, “and I believe we have just the compensation in mind that would interest you.” He gestured, and said, “Go on, Hattie. Tell him.”

“When you leave New Orleans, Mr. Fargo, you’ll be wealthy,” Hattie said. “Between what David is paying you, and a reasonable cash incentive from us, you’ll be able to make your way comfortably anywhere in the world. But your true reward from us you’ve already seen.” She paused dramatically, then whispered, “I’ll let you take Fleur when you go.”

“Mary?” Fargo asked.

“I suppose that’s her real name,” Hattie said. “She is quite beautiful, isn’t she, Mr. Fargo?”

Damn woman, Fargo thought. How could he refuse if it meant getting Mary out of the horrible situation she was in?

“Ah,” Beares said. “I believe we’ve caught Mr. Fargo’s interest.”

“Oh, Beary,” she said. “There’s not a man alive who doesn’t think with his pecker most of the time. It’s why my business is so successful.”

“Well, Fargo, what do you think of our little proposition? You keep Hattie here safe, and when the game is over, I’ll give you two thousand in cash, plus Hattie will give you the beautiful Fleur for your very own. With what Parker is paying you, that’s quite a haul for little more than a night’s work.”

“She’s not a slave,” Fargo said. “Someone you can just give away or sell whenever you want.”

Hattie laughed. “Oh, Mr. Fargo, you are indeed naive about the ways of our city. Fleur is a slave in all but name. When she came to work for me, she signed a contract. A lifetime contract, Mr. Fargo. She is mine to do with as I please—and if giving her to you is what pleases me, then so be it.” She waved a hand covered with a lace glove. “She’ll go along quietly, Fargo. And from what the girls tell me, she was quite taken with you.”

Damn woman, Fargo thought again. She’d maneuvered him into a corner. Somehow, she had a hold on something that Mary valued—maybe a hold of some kind over all the girls at the Blue Emporium. But in order to find out what it was, he’d have to play along. At least for a while.

“And all I have to do is keep Miss Hamilton safe?” he asked.

“Indeed,” Beares said. “Even Senator Parker, I think, could respect that.”

Fargo nodded, thinking that there was so much going on in this town that was beneath the surface. Everyone’s motives were hidden and he suspected that the person truly pulling the strings was Hattie Hamilton— but what he lacked was proof.

“All right,” he said. “I’ll do it. For Mary and five thousand.”

“Outrageous!” Beares shouted. “You can’t be serious!”

Fargo grinned at him. “Oh, I imagine your ‘most prized trophy’ is worth at least that, isn’t she, Senator Beares?”

“Damn women,” Beares muttered. “Fine. Five thousand. ”

Hattie squealed like a schoolgirl and threw her arms around Beares. “You’re so sweet, Beary,” she said. “Whatever would I do without you?”

“Yes, well, there is that, isn’t there?” Beares asked. He moved to a picture on the wall, removed it, and opened a safe. He took out a wad of cash and counted quickly. “Here’s half now,” he said to Fargo, handing it to him. “You’ll get Fleur and the rest after the game is over and you’re ready to leave town.”

“Fair enough,” Fargo said. “There’s just one more thing.”

“What’s that?” they asked, almost in unison.

“Her name is Mary, and she doesn’t take another customer from now on.”

“What?” Hattie said. “What difference does it make?”

“Those are my terms,” Fargo said. He held out the money to Beares. “Take it or leave it.”

“What’s it matter, Hattie?” Beares asked.

“I was hoping to . . .” She sighed, then nodded. “Fine, Mr. Fargo. Mary won’t take another customer—but she stays at the Blue Emporium until it’s all over.”

“Agreed,” Fargo said, slipping the money into his vest. “I’ll be leaving now,” he added. “If we’re done?”