Chapter 3 - Love's Gamble
Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: Love's Gamble - Free Book | Posted On at 7:41 PM
Copyright - Tina Dee Books/Tina Dee Communications 2009 - All Rights Reserved
Chapter 3
Eddie pushed the café door closed behind him. A moment later the chatter in the room died down. He ducked his head and made his way to a table in the back corner of the room.
Most folks continued to eat and converse, but the guarded stares of a few people shot through him. Hopefully, he didn’t owe anyone here any money. Or, had run off for the night with one of their daughters. Or, is one of those daughters. He sunk in his chair and turned toward the wall to avoid looking at anyone.
The skirt of a lady swished by, disappearing into the kitchen. He turned and then stood to look after it.
“Oh! Excuse me.” A woman’s surprised voice came from behind.
He turned with raised brows, then sucked in a deep breath. She was a sight to behold. Eddie straightened up. He must have stood a good half a foot taller than the pretty little thing.
“How do, ma’am?” He offered a slight nod.
Her face pinched. “Sir, please excuse me.” She’d forced the words out.
Eddie looked her up and down with a smile. Obviously she hadn’t taken a good look at him.
“Sir, I need to get past you and into the kitchen.” She stepped closer, as if to squeeze past him.
Or…maybe she just wanted to be closer to him. Sassy! I like that in a girl.
He stepped aside and admired the view as she passed.
She glided through the kitchen. She and Sunny worked fine together, much like a dance set to a fast-paced tune.
Sunny. Now that was one girl he didn’t treat the way he did others. Why? He didn’t know. But somehow, she was different. He didn’t think about it too much, just didn’t want that to ever change.
“Excuse me again, sir.”
Eddie pulled his gaze from Sunny and looked down at the pretty little blonde with the long, curly hair. She stood before him with plates in each hand. Again, he nodded as he moved aside.
Sunny swept past, as well, with plates in her hands. The ladies set meals down in front of customers before rushing by him and back into the kitchen.
He dropped into his chair. The café was always busy, but tonight seemed more so. After wondering for several moments if he’d eat tonight, the pretty new lady stopped at his table.
“My apologies. We’re so busy and it’s my first day working here. Most everyone has their food, so I can take your order now.”
With his best grin he looked up into her big brown eyes.
She gave a smile, but not much of one.
She was probably trying to hide her attraction. Yep, that would be best, since we’re only just meeting and she looks to be the respectable type. A tapping against the floor broke through his thoughts. He looked down at her foot.
“Sir, if you’re undecided about what you want, maybe I should come back.”
“Oh darlin’ I wasn’t undecided until you came along.”
She rolled her eyes and turned to go.
Eddie shot out of his seat and pulled her back, closer to him than he’d intended.
She reached over to a nearby table and grabbed a glass of water, then flung its cold contents in his face. “Say whatever you want, but don’t ever touch me again, mister!”
Laughter rolled around the room from patrons who had caught the exchange between them.
Shame surged through him. He hadn’t meant to draw her so close, it just sort of happened. “I’m sorry ma’am. I shouldn’t have—”
She yanked free and stomped off to the kitchen.
Wiping his sleeve across his face he headed for the door, stepped out, then slammed it behind him, only to have his stomach pang with hunger. He peeked in through the curtains to see her scurrying around the room to drop off food or take orders.
No doubt, dealing with that gal could prove to be a challenge. Best watch his step around her. He moseyed along the boardwalk in the opposite direction his brother had taken earlier. Miss Claire had a soft spot for Eddie, she’d always welcomed him and offered a boarding house meal.
There he wouldn’t have a glass of water thrown in his face. At least not by a beautiful woman like the one he’d just nearly charmed. He brushed away a drop of water running down his neck. “That little gal and me, we’re not done yet.” He chuckled.
He smiled back in the direction of the café as he pushed his hat on. “I just might aim to marry her if she plays her cards right. Ha!” He laughed.
As if any woman could tie me down. He picked up his stride. “That’s right miss, you haven’t seen the last of Edwin Riley. No ma’am.”
~ ~ ~
Molly strode to the Cameron’s house. The setting sun cast long shadows from the buildings that lined the street. Most of the town’s businesses were closing up for the day. Molly had left her things back at the café, hoping to retrieve them later if the Cameron’s agreed to let her stay for the night. She didn’t want to trouble Sunny, who’d stayed behind to clean up the kitchen and prepare for their pre-dawn arrivals tomorrow morning. Sunny had said she’d help Molly find a more permanent place to live tomorrow.
Stepping onto the porch, Molly knocked on the pastor’s front door. The green house sat close behind the white church. Chickens clucked from the side yard. Molly looked over the front yard as she waited for someone to answer. Several feet away, an oak stood tall where it could shade two rockers on the porch on warm afternoons. Even now, a small breeze rustled through its leaves.
The door pulled open and Pastor Cameron smiled. “Miss Adams, it’s so good to see you. Please come in and join us. You’re just in time for dessert.”
Molly entered hesitantly. She didn’t like that fact that she’d come to ask for a place to stay the night, or that she'd interrupted their supper. The aroma of baked chicken and cherry pie mingled in the air. If she weren’t full from eating with Sunny, her mouth would be watering right now. “I’m sorry to trouble you, Pastor Cameron. And I’m sorry for leaving so abruptly earlier.”
“Everyone calls me Pastor Jason. Please feel free to do the same. And about this afternoon, don’t trouble yourself with another thought of it.”
Her neck and shoulders relaxed at the kindness in his voice. She nodded, wanting to just get the words out and let him know she’d need a place to stay for the evening. The soft footfall from behind told her someone had joined them. Molly turned, expecting to find Mrs. Cameron.
Instead, she found him.
Mrs. Cameron followed Mr. Riley in from the dining room. The pastor’s wife smiled warmly at Molly. Pastor Cameron took his wife’s arm and they left the room.
Molly speared Mr. Riley with her gaze. “You!”
He crossed his arms and leaned back. “Me?”
Her hands went to her hips. “Yes, you!”
He shook his head. “Now I’m not the one being unreasonable.”
Molly drew in a breath then clenched her teeth. Her cheeks heated. How could he say that? “Why are you trying to get rid of me?”
His shoulders sagged and he stared at her for what seemed like an eternity. “It’s really far too complicated to explain. I’m doing it to protect you—”
“Protect me? It would seem the one I need protection from is you!” She had to get out of here. He made her angry like no other man ever had. She looked about—for something to throw at him. Before she did anything she’d regret, she spun around and ran out the door.
~ ~ ~
Jeff stared at the open door. He didn’t know if he should follow her or find Pastor Jason. His feet were like lead and his heart felt just as heavy.
That girl’s gonna drive me crazy.
~ ~ ~
With a belly full of Miss Claire’s home cooked food, Eddie roamed Main Street looking over the nine saloons the town boasted. Music from each bawdy establishment floated out to the street and mixed into one garbled tune. In which saloon, at what poker table, and with which girl would he find himself with tonight?
He pushed his hands deep into his pockets, just to be sure of his suspicion. Empty! He’d need to head out and get gold again, and soon.
But tonight, maybe luck would play her hand in his favor.
The silhouette of a lady coming his way caught his attention. Eddie squinted. Curly long hair hanging down—the girl from Sunny’s. Apparently, luck favored the lady tonight, because it brought her across his path for a second time in one day.
“Well,” he drew out slowly as he removed his hat, “seems we’re destined to meet again.”
She looked up from the handkerchief she had pressed to her cheek. Seeing him she turned aside to cross the street.
Eddie rushed over and took her by the arm.
The girl spun on him.
He pulled away with his hands up in the air. “Whoa there, I’ve had enough water today, thank you kindly.”
She looked at him questioningly then burst into tears.
What was going on with her? Earlier he couldn’t touch her without a wet rebuke, and now she’s falling apart sobbing. Would he ever understand the mind of a woman? And why did they have to cry so much? Don’t they know men hate that?
For a moment, he just stared at her, but then he looked at her, really looked at her. She was beautiful, and earlier feisty, but now she just looked so…broken. Brokenhearted. Something pulled at his heart. A feeling he wasn’t used to.
“Listen here, miss. I didn’t mean anything thing when I said that, or earlier when—I didn’t mean for you to take offense to me handling you.”
She sniffed, looking up at him. “It’s not you. I’m sorry.”
“Well, maybe I can help. First of all, what’s got you so upset?” Eddie spied an empty bench across the street. “Let’s go have a seat in front of the mercantile, it won’t do to have a lady like you standing here so close to the saloon near sunset.”
She glanced at the swinging doors behind them then gasped. Pressing her handkerchief to her moist eyes, she nodded.
After taking a seat on the bench, she turned to him, but kept her eyes downcast. “My fiancé, he…he…”
Eddie leaned in. “Did he hurt you?”
“Yes!” The blubbering started again.
He tugged at his collar, which choked at him more now than it had all day. He worked to steady his breathing. “Did he hit you, ma’am?”
Her gaze shot up to his. “No, nothing like that. He’s decided he won’t marry me. I don’t have anywhere else to go, I have no family, and the only family I was to have, doesn’t want me now.” Her last words were said on sobs.
“Why that no-good-no-account-for-nothin’! You can’t just let him get away with that. I know his kind!” Heh, I am his kind! How could he do this to a lovely girl like this? A family girl. She looked to be the marrying kind. His gut knotted for her helpless situation. His mind scrambled. First thing to do would be to get a roof over her head. She had a job, so she’s obviously an industrious girl.
“Listen, I know a boardinghouse run by a widow, Miss Claire. Just came from there myself. She’s a real nice lady and she’ll take care of you. She’s got a room available and you can stay with her until you decide what to do. I’ll take you there now if you want.”
“You would? Why? I was so mean to you earlier today.”
“Aw, I deserved it. Let me take you there and you can tell me more about this fella.”
They walked to Claire’s and Eddie told her he’d stop off at Sunny’s to pick up her things and drop them off. Molly had told him what he’d already figured out. She’d come from far away to marry the no-good louse. His feelings for her must have cooled, or more likely he’d found someone else. That her fiancé would prefer another woman to her was beyond Eddie.
They stopped at the gated picket fence in front of the boardinghouse. “Ma’am, from what you told me, I hope you won’t mind me saying so, but I think you should go see Will Darby tomorrow. Tell him your situation.”
“Who’s he?”
“The town’s attorney. If you ask me, you’ve got a case on your hands, not that I know the law or anything. But, you should be compensated for being jilted from the life you were promised to. Well, that’s my opinion, anyway. It won’t hurt just to talk to him.”
She tilted her head to the side and then looked up at him. “You know, I think you’re right. Maybe I’ll do that. Do you think he’ll see me?”
“Sure he will. You just tell him Ed—uh…you just tell him Jeff sent you. He’ll know who you mean.” Everybody respected Jeff. If she gave his brother’s name as the referral, Mr. Darby would be more willing to help her.
Eddie knew more about this woman than he did about any other. Well, nearly everything but her name.
She turned away and headed up the walk, knocked on the door, and when it opened she stepped inside.
Eddie strolled a few steps away from the house.
“Thank you, Jeff!” The pretty little thing had stuck her head through the opening in the doorway and called out with a wobbly voice.
He turned around and waved, then headed for the café to fetch her things.
Poor little thing.
No sense in correcting her now. She’d find out all too soon who he really was, not to mention the kind of man he was also.
Eddie cringed at the thought.
Copyright - Tina Dee Books/Tina Dee Communications 2009 - All Rights Reserved
Click here to read chapter 4.
Click here to read chapter 4.
Is this your book? It sounds good!
~Carman
booklovercb[at]yahoo[dot]com
And another chapter ends before I'm ready to see it go...
I can't wait to see where you take these three, Tina! Looks like things might get exciting from here. It's so good to see you posting a chapter after the rough time you were having over the last month or so. I hope things are going better for you. Take care!
Hi Carman,
Yes, this is the blog book. I have 3 other novels I'm working on, one is in rewrites (oh my gosh, a lot of rewriting, that baby needs HELP!) and the other 2 are being plotted & outlined. Thank you for stopping by & reading it!
Hi Rebecca,
I've missed ya! Haven't been able to even to make my blog visits to you, Billy, & Pastor Pete (w/o wax blog). Yes, please keep my folks in prayer, they both have pneumonia, and more. Thanks for reading Love's Gamble. XO!
Great reading! You paint such vivid pictures with your words. Please don't make us wait too long for the next installment. ;)
Tina, you are a remarkable writer! This is a real "page" turner for me - I don't want the chapters to end! I want to be able to keep reading until the book is over and I know what happens!