have work, or I’ll be on the streets starving. You folks were the only ones I have to turn to. You’re the only ones who have ever helped women like Dancing and me. All the girls talk about how the doc treats them like they was a lady, and how Sister gives them sweets when they leave, like they was Sunday company come to visit. And this here invisible woman fought for us. No one’s ever fought for-”
“Hush,” Sister Cel ordered in a gruff tone that didn’t reflect in her face.
Adam smiled. “You give them sweets, Sister?” He couldn’t hold his laughter when the nun blushed.
“I might have. Don’t concern yourself with the workings of others, Doctor.”
The old woman never gave him an inch. She might toss her undying loyalty to Nick at first glance, but she would challenge him at every turn. He couldn’t decide if she liked him and was trying to hide it, or only tolerated him.
“Of course,” he answered. “This house is bulging at the seams with secrets. Why should we not add another?”
Sister Cel faced him directly. “I agree. There is always room for one more.” She looked at Rose. “Can you wash that color out of your hair?”
“Yes,” Rose whispered. “I worked real hard getting it in, but half a bar of lye should chase it away.”
“Even if we could get her looking like a cook, where’s she going to sleep?” Adam couldn’t believe they were adding another to their number.
“I’ll sleep on a cot in the kitchen.” Rose looked excited. “And I’ll work for room and board. I wouldn’t expect no pay.”
“This is insane.” Adam glanced at Nichole for her opinion.
“I heard Bergette say she’d be gone in three weeks and I’ll be leaving as soon as Wolf comes. Then you’ll have plenty of room.” Nichole shrugged. “If you had a cook, Sister could help more with the patients.”
“But I’ll only stay while I’m needed,” Sister Cel added. “I didn’t sign on for a full tour of duty.”
“All right,” Adam gave in. “Get her looking respectable. I’ll talk to Mrs. Jamison.” He pointed at Rose. “But remember, nothing about Nick being here. As far as you’re concerned she’s a ghost in this house… and no drinking.”
“I don’t even see her now. But I do tend to cook more than folks will eat.” Rose lifted her chin proudly. She not only would have a respectable job, she’d be entrusted with a secret and that was a great honor. “As for drinking, I promise not more than one after sundown. My ma always said not to go too far with redemption, or salting.”
“Fair enough.” Adam offered his hand. “Welcome.”
The nun led Rose upstairs to clean off the paint and powder and dig through boxes of old dresses Mrs. Jamison kept in the storage room. Adam and Nichole were left alone.
He moved to the window and looked out, as if there were something to watch. “I don’t know what to say about what happened between us this morning.” He hesitated with each word.
“It isn’t necessary to say anything,” she answered, feeling his hurt as she’d felt it earlier in the bedroom when Bergette had tormented him.
He folded his arms and leaned against the wall. “I’d say I’m sorry, but it would be a lie. I’ve wanted to kiss you again since that first night.”
“Why didn’t you?”
How could he explain how different they were, how they didn’t belong in the same world? She was just visiting his, no more. And he no longer believed in love, or living a life with another. Bergette had taught him that all too clearly. If he pulled Nichole as close as he wanted to, he wasn’t sure he’d have enough heart left to pump blood when she walked out of his life.
“I’ll make you a promise,” he whispered. “I’ll not touch you again no matter how much I want to. You’ll have no fear of me.”
“I have no fear of you now,” she answered, shoving her hands into her pockets.
“I’m glad I didn’t destroy that between us.” He looked at her, wanting to clear the air. Too much of their lives had crossed for them to part as strangers. “Any questions? Or any more you want me to promise for the remainder of your stay?”
Nichole smiled and moved to stand beside him. “Only one. How about me touching you? Is my behavior part of your promise?”
Adam relaxed a little. “No. It doesn’t figure in. Any time you like, I’m available. And unlike Bergette, you’ll never have to ask, just make a move. Being close enough to touch you would be a pleasure.”
Nichole wasn’t joking. But she’d take him up on his offer some other time. First things first. “Mind telling me what the deputy needed? Any word on the stagecoach attack?”
“No. But I thought I saw a paint horse tied around back of his office. After we talked I went to look, but it was gone. Probably not the one you saw that was with the raiders. There are lots of paints.”
“So what was so important that Russell had to see you right away?”
“He only wanted to know where I’d been early this morning after Dancing died. The undertaker said I’d been with him so that ended my being questioned. It seems someone broke into Mole’s saloon and did quite a bit of damage.” He looked at her closely. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
“Sure. I crawled out the window of your office, snuck into Mole’s bedroom across the way, stole the keys and broke into his place just before dawn. Then, of course, I retraced my steps and put the keys back while he slept nude only inches away, snoring like a pig.”
Adam laughed. “Sure you did, Nick. Sure you did. And I’ve no doubt Sister went along as your sidekick.”
He walked out of the room still laughing. Nichole shrugged her shoulders. “So much for honesty.”
An hour later, Nichole hid behind the door and watched Mrs. Jamison meet Rose, a silent little woman who looked like she’d been raised in a girls’ boarding school. Her hair was brown, her face scrubbed, her dress only slightly reminiscent of a gown Mrs. Jamison had worn years ago.
Within minutes Mrs. Jamison welcomed her and turned the duties of the kitchen over to her. By noon, Rose had prepared a simple but hearty meal, and by dinner the smell of fresh-baked bread filled the house. Even Bergette approved of Rose’s cooking, but complained that now she’d gain weight.
When the house settled down for the night, Nichole slipped up to the tiny attic room and dressed in black. As soon as the doctor’s light went out, she had another mission.
SIXTEEN
ADAM LEANED BACK from his desk and tried to relax. His office and examining room looked like there had been a savage raid on the place, leaving no survivors. He’d had little time to put away the books he pulled from the study to allow space for Nichole’s bed. All the volumes lined one wall like a narrow unstable bench. Remains of the carpentry work for Dancing’s casket littered the floor of his once spotless examining room along with soiled sheets and discarded bandages.
The day had been endless. After Bergette said he wasn’t a man because he didn’t want to make love to her, she refused to speak to him. Mrs. Jamison informed him he’d have to pay for Rose, though she was cooking for everyone. She also hinted he look for another place if he planned to continue treating whores or allowing them to die beneath her roof. She didn’t come right out with an open threat, but her words sounded more like Bergette’s than the ailing landlady’s.
Charles and Lily thought themselves above Rose and offered little help in the kitchen, only ample advice. To Adam’s surprise, Rose held her own with them, taking on her share of the work and no more. She might be yes- ma’aming Mrs. Jamison, but she was a scrapper in the ranks.
To make the atmosphere more hectic, the deputy had been by three times trying to wrangle a confession out of everyone including Sister Cel. He seemed convinced that since Dancing died there before dawn, someone in the house was responsible for Mole’s worries at the saloon. The deputy proclaimed himself a close friend of Mole’s and swore to catch the culprit. But Mole had his share of enemies. The doctor was far down on his list to “make pay.”
Deputy Russell also reported the stage robbery was officially blamed on a small band of outlaws in the area.
