“Ma’am, I’ll call him and tell him.”
“Oh, don’t do that. I’ll save you the trouble. Just give me a key to his room. He won’t mind.” Tilly held out her hand, swayed on her heels, and almost stumbled.
“Ma’am, have you been drinking?”
Grabbing the counter to steady herself, Tilly said, “No, of course not. It’s the Prohibition, silly.”
The desk clerk put both his fisted hands on the counter and looked at Tilly with all the authority his position allowed. “Ma’am, I’m going to ask you to leave now. I would suggest you order a ride from the valet. I will call Mr. Wembley myself and deliver your message. Now please leave. I cannot and will not open Mr. Wembley’s room for you or give you a key.”
Tilly leaned over the counter on her forearms, exposing her cleavage. The desk clerk averted his gaze. She tried to sweet-talk him but that didn’t work either. Teetering on her heels, she attempted to open her handbag and give him some money. While she was digging around for a bit of cash, he picked up the house phone and called security. Two well-built men materialized at the desk. The clerk nodded and Tilly was swooped up by her elbows, yelling, “Don’t you touch me! Put me down!” Each security guard held her tightly as she kicked her feet in the air causing her shoes to fly across the lobby. A young bellman ran to pick them up. Waiting at the front door of the hotel was a Louisville squad car. The young bellman placed Tilly’s shoes in the backseat and the two security guards helped Tilly into the car. With that, Miss Tilly Coombs, seductress of Churchill Downs, was driven to police headquarters.
Chapter 81
The Return
Leon drove the Packard to the train station to pick up Maizie and Mary. So much had happened in the few days that they had been gone. Leon was not sure how to tell Mary the big news. He was having trouble shaking his nervousness. He looked across the waiting area, where Maizie and Mary, seated on a bench, seemed to be enjoying a pleasant conversation.
“Madame. Looks as though I am late,” said Leon.
“We arrived early, an odd thing for a train.” Mary laughed. Leon picked up the bags, one under his arm and one in each hand. He walked quickly to the Packard as Mary and Maizie followed. When the luggage was placed in the trunk and Leon slid into the driver’s seat, Mary said, “Leon, we had such a lovely time at Churchill Downs. How are things at the ranch?”
“C’est bon, c’est bon.” Leon turned the ignition key and the Packard began to hum. Looking over his shoulder to the backseat he said, “Everything is good. There is one thing.”
Mary’s eyebrows rose. “What?”
Leon quickly explained Josie’s surprise arrival—how she was ill and had no place to go and how the staff made a quick decision because it was the right thing to do. Mary, at first, was a bit shocked that the staff did not consult her. Had she known she may have not supported the idea of caring for the young woman she had fired. On the other hand, it was the right and Christian thing to do.
Leon opened the door to the cabin and Mary saw Sugar seated by the bed. She was cooling the patient down with a damp cloth and singing softly. Josie’s eyes were closed, her head cloth wrapped neatly around her hairless head. Sugar turned to face the visitors. She put her finger to her lips, laid down the wet rag and stood to walk the few steps to where Mary was standing. Sugar gestured for all to go outside.
“How in the world… ?” asked Mary.
“Leon and me believe God brought her back.”
“I see. But is she contagious? I can’t be allowing exposure to our staff. The last thing we want is an outbreak here at the ranch.”
“The doctor said the lice is gone. The rest is not contagious. She won’t hurt us none.”
“That’s good news,” said Mary, her arms crossed.
Sugar continued: “She has a little fever this afternoon. The doctor said she is doing better. Less pain. Less cough. She’s eating a little. I get as much liquid down her as I can. I keep her clean. Oh, she was so dirty. What the child has suffered! She’s so grateful to me and the girls. We all take turns.”
“I see. But this is certainly a shock.” Despite knowing taking Josie in was the humane thing to do, Mary felt oddly betrayed by her staff. Josie had no business coming back here.
“I knows I didn’t have permission but everyone wanted to help. Ol’ Jon makes an atomizer for her with sage, echinacea, and whiskey. It helps with the pain. He also brings her lemon water and honey for the cough. Corky and Billy cook her soft food and chicken soup. The girls keep her nightgowns and bedding clean and separate from everyone else’s. The doctor comes and gives her treatments. They ain’t pleasant and we hold her hand.”
“Why does everyone want to help her?” asked Mary.
“Josie could have been any of us. Things is hard out there.”
“But no one else broke our rules. No one else was called on their poor behavior, asked to change their ways. No one else…”
Sugar nodded. “I knows. I heard. But some worry they might do something wrong. Be asked to leave. Where would they go?”
Mary was quiet for a minute, then asked if she could have a minute or two with Josie. Leon looked nervously at Sugar. Sugar straightened her back and said, “Leon did right to bring her here.”
“I understand that is how you both feel. I feel a little that way myself, but…” Mary looked at Maizie. “Come in the room
