Lawless

He’d figured on her saying something of the kind. “Maybe you could get somebody to buy a bottle for you.” He gave her a gap-toothed smile and was careful not to spit. “I’d be obliged.”

She opened her mouth, ready to lecture him on the evils of drink. With a sigh, she shut it again. The man worked very hard for very little. It wasn’t her place to deny him his comforts, whatever they might be.

“I’ll see what can be done.”

His grizzled face brightened immediately. “That’s right kind of you, miss. And I sure will get started on that coop.” Relieved, he spit in the dirt. “You look real pretty today, miss. Just like a picture.”

Her lips curved. If anyone had told her a week ago that she would grow fond of a smelly, whiskey-drinking creature like Lucius, she’d have thought them mad. “Thank you. There’s chicken and fresh bread in the cabin.” She held her breath and snapped the reins.

Sarah had dressed very carefully for town. If she was going to interest the ladies in ordering fashionable clothes from her, then it was wise to advertise. Her dress was a particularly flattering shade of moss green with a high neckline she’d graced with her cameo. The trim of rose-colored ribbon and the rows of flounces at the skirt made it a bit flirtatious. She’d added a matching bo

Sarah left them to race home and try on their new dresses while she completed her errands.

“Sarah.” Liza danced around the counter of the dry goods store to take both of her hands. “Oh, what a wonderful dress. Every woman in town’s going to want one like it.”

“I was hoping to tempt them.” Laughing, Sarah turned in a circle. “It’s one of my favorites.” “I can see why. Is everything all right with you? I haven’t been able to get away for days.”

“Everything’s fine. There’s been no more trouble.”

She wandered over to take a look at the bolts of fabric. “I’m certain it was just an isolated incident. As the sheriff said, it must have been drifters.” Glancing over, she smiled. “Hello, Mrs. Cody,” she said as Liza’s mother came in from the stockroom.

“Sarah, it’s nice to see you, and looking so pretty, too.”

“Thank you. I’ve brought your dress.”

“Well, that was quick work.” A

“Oh, I don’t want you to pay for it until you look and make sure it’s what you wanted.”

A

“Why, Sarah, it’s lovely.” Clearly pleased, A

Gri

Pa always says Ma could sell a legless man new boots.”

“Here you are, Sarah.” A

“It’s more than worth every pe

“Young lady.” Mrs. Miller peered through her spectacles at the stitches in A

“Oh, yes, ma’am.” Sarah beamed, ignoring the fact that very little would be flattering to Mrs. Miller’s bulky figure. “You have a good eye for color. This fabric trimmed in purple would be stu

“She wants to outshine her sister. I’ll have to make sure she does.”

“It won’t be easy, considering what you have to work with. And she’s overcharging you for those chicks.”

“That’s all right.” Sarah turned with a grin. “I’m going to overcharge her for the dresses. Do you have time to walk with me? I’d like to go down and see if this blue-and-white stripe takes Mrs. O’Rourke’s fancy.”

They started down the walkway. After only a few steps, Liza stopped and swept her skirts aside. Sarah watched the statuesque woman approach. In all her life she’d never seen hair that color. It gleamed like the brass knob on Mother Superior’s office door. The vivid blue silk dress she wore was too snug at the bodice and entirely too low for day wear. Smooth white breasts rose out of it, the left one adorned with a small beauty mark that matched another at the corner of her -red lips. She carried an unfurled parasol and strolled, her hips swaying shamelessly.

As she came shoulder-to-shoulder with Sarah, the woman stopped and looked her up and down. The tiny smile she wore became a smirk as she walked oh, rolling her hips.

“My goodness.” Sarah could think of little else to say as she rubbed her nose. The woman’s perfume remained stubbornly behind.

“That was Carlotta. She runs the Silver Star.”

“She looks…extraordinary.”

“Well, she’s a-you know.”

“A what?”

“A woman of ill repute,” Liza said in a whisper.

“Oh.” Sarah’s eyes grew huge. She’d heard, of course. Even in Philadelphia one heard of such women. But to actually pass one on the street… “Oh, my. I wonder why she looked at me that way.”

“Probably because Jake Redman’s been out your way a couple times. Jake’s a real favorite with Carlotta.”

She shut her mouth tight. If her mother heard her talking that way she’d be ski

“I should have known.” With a toss of her head

Sarah started to walk again. For the life of her she didn’t know why she felt so much like crying.

Mrs. O’Rourke greeted her with pleasure. Not only had it been a year since she’d had a new dress, she was determined to know all there was to know about the woman who was keeping Jake so churned up.

“I thought you might like this striped material, Mrs.

O’Rourke.”

“It’s right nice.” Maggie fingered the cotton with a large, reddened hand. “No doubt it’ll make up pretty. Michael…my first husband was Michael Bailey, he was partial to a pretty dress. Died young, did Michael. Got a little drunk and took the wrong horse. Hung him for a horse thief before he sobered up.” Not certain what response was proper, Sarah murmured something inaudible. “I’m sure the colors would flatter you.”

Maggie let out a bray of laughter. “Girl, I’m past the age where I care about being flattered. Buried me two husbands. Mr. O’Rourke, rest his soul, was hit by lightning back in ‘63. The good Lord doesn’t always protect fools and drunkards, you know. Save me, I’m not in the market for another one. The only reason a woman decks herself out is to catch a man or keep one.” She ran her shrewd eyes over Sarah. “Now you’ve got a rig on this day, you do.”

Deciding to take the remark as a compliment, Sarah offered a small smile. “Thank you. If you’d prefer something else, I could-” “I wasn’t saying I didn’t like the goods.”

“Sarah can make you a very serviceable dress, Mrs. O’Rourke,” Liza put in. “My ma’s real pleased with hers. Mrs. Miller’s having her make up two for her trip to Kansas City.”

“That so?” Maggie knew what a pinchpe

“If a man got ideas about you, Maggie, he’d lose them quick enough after a bowl of your stew.”