They passed by a pawnshop, and Mary couldn’t help but notice a brooch displayed in the window. Not her aunt’s, but enough to remind her of Ben’s threats. How was she going to fully extricate herself without being implicated in Ben’s evildoings?
“Could you have played a role in the change of Ben’s character?” Polly gave her a long look. “He said he’s going to church now. Maybe he realized the failings you pointed out and decided to improve upon them. He sounded quite earnest.”
Mary stopped. Stared at her friend for a moment. “Have you gone mad?”
“What?” Polly’s eye held the twinkle Mary knew and loved. “He is rather fine-looking. And unlike most of the men in this town, he’s got nice manners. He seems to be everything a man ought to be.”
That was precisely the problem...he seemed to be a lot of things. The trouble was, he was none of them.
“And to think just yesterday, you were telling me how all men were less useful than the sludge that comes from the smelters.”
Polly sighed. “True. I’m sure your Ben is just as useless despite being so handsome to behold. Still, a girl can always dream that there’s happiness to be found for someone, at least.”
“A man’s looks can be deceiving, surely you know that.”
The darkness Mary had come to recognize being part of Polly returned to her face, and Mary regretted teasing Polly about hating men. The man who’d recently broken Polly’s heart had supposedly been very handsome. Mary hadn’t meant to rub salt in Polly’s wounds.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—“
“Leave it. You don’t want to talk about Ben, I don’t want to talk about the past.”
Polly adjusted the basket she’d been carrying. “Let’s hurry and deliver these baked goods to Miss Betty’s, then meet up with the other girls from church for the picnic. It’ll be good for you to get to know them, and it’d be a far sight better than sitting around the house with Rose still sore at you.”
Mary’s own basket was starting to get heavy, and she’d appreciate finishing the task, as well. Even though she understood Frank’s mission was about helping the less fortunate in Leadville, Mary still didn’t always understand why it had to be those women. It didn’t matter how many times Frank told the story of the sinful woman and how no one cast a stone at her, she still didn’t feel comfortable entering dens of sin.
Were it not for Miss Betty’s kindness, though, who knew what would have happened to Nugget, Mary’s youngest sister. Most notorious women would not have cared for the child of one of their deceased workers, but Miss Betty had taken care of Nugget until their brother Joseph came to town. Surely she could muster some grace for the sinner who saved her sister.
She and Polly bustled down the street, picking up their pace as they entered State Street. Most decent folks avoided this part of town. Ruffians could attack at any time, and no one would come to their aid. Usually one of Polly’s brothers came with them, but they’d been too busy up at the mine, now that it was finally in production.
As they passed the saloon a few doors down from Miss Betty’s, a man stumbled out, disheveled.
“But I can still win it back,” he slurred.
Mary lifted her skirts slightly and attempted to move past when another man followed.
“I don’t think so, Hank. You’re in to me for far more than you can ever pay.” The man gave a barking laugh, so distinctive that Mary was forced to look at him.
Ben. His shirt was unbuttoned, and a scantily clad woman had her arm possessively around his.
Mary glanced over at Polly, who gave a shrug.
But Mary wasn’t going to accept that. Not when it could possibly give her a way out.
“So this is where you’ve been keeping yourself,” she told him, giving her best glare. “Despite your words last night, I think it’s clear that we no longer have a future together.”
He stepped toward her, stuffing his shirttails into his pants. “A little meaningless fun, that’s all.”
“Not in my book.” Mary tucked her free arm into Polly’s and took another step down the street. “Let’s go.”
Another man rounded the corner, blocking their path. She didn’t need to look up to know it was Will. Something about his presence...
Whatever it was, it couldn’t be a good feeling, the way her windpipe felt as if it was closing up. Mary cleared her throat. “I see you’ve found each other. Now you both can leave me alone. I want nothing more to do with the lot of you.”
She tugged at Polly’s arm to go around them, catching Polly mouth the question Two beaus? at her. No, she didn’t have two beaus. She’d only ever had the one, but...
Will’s eyes were firmly upon her. Deep, probing eyes that made her feel more undressed than the woman standing next to Ben.
Ben said something, but she didn’t hear. Didn’t want to, for that matter. Determined not to be caught up in further conversation with either man, she practically sprinted to Miss Betty’s, pulling a breathless Polly behind her.
Only once they were seated in Miss Betty’s kitchen, cups of tea in front of them, the serving girl dispatched to fetch Miss Betty, did Mary speak.
“So now you understand why I can’t marry Ben.” Polly gave a nonchalant look. “They all do it. Might as well accept that fact. You’ll marry eventually, then look aside when he seeks his entertainment.”
Mary’s face burned. Not just with the casual treatment of marriage, but with the reminders of what her family had suffered due to her father’s indiscretion.
“Frank isn’t like that,” Mary retorted. Some men could be trustworthy.
After casually setting her teacup down, Polly gave half a smile. “But he’s a rare one. Most men think nothing of visiting State Street.”
“Polly MacDonald!” Mary glared at her friend. “Your mother would tan your hide if she heard you being so
