Read Online A Lady in Defiance by Heather Blanton - Free Book Online Page A

delight and took it off her hands. “Thank you, Marshal,”
Naomi quipped, unable to hide a grin over her sister’s enthusiasm. Some
normalcy in this new life was comforting and Hannah did love to shop, even if
she couldn’t buy. “I’m surprised. Are we able to get Montgomery Ward to ship
here?”
    “Ma’m, there’s a sayin’ in mining towns: if you’ve got money,
men and mules, you’ve got the world. There’s a saloon over in Eureka that
sports a real chandelier, come all the way from London, England around the horn
to San Francisco to here. Not one crystal was broke.” He smiled as if
remembering the grandeur of the light. “The saloon over in Animas Forks has an
I-talian sculpture of a naked lady−oh, I do apologize, ma’m.”
    “Thank you, Marshal. You’ve made your point.” She appreciated
the apology. Obviously it wouldn’t have fazed Mr. McIntyre a bit to share such
lewd information. “But why is it that all the finer items go to the saloons?”
    The marshal shrugged. “I reckon ‘cuz the saloon owners are
the only folks plannin’ on stayin’. Most folks are just passin’ through,
lookin’ for that big strike.” Naomi chewed her lip, pondering the violent,
unwashed, ill-mannered population of Defiance. As if reading her mind, the
marshal added, “Also, ma’m, I just wanted to remind you that if you’ve any
errands to run, it would be best to get them done before dark. After that, you
might be mistaken for...”
    “I understand. We were going to try to make it to the general
store before it closes. Do you know what time that would be?”
    “Yes’m, six o’clock.” He pulled a watch from his vest pocket
and flipped the lid open. “It’s right now 4:30.”
    “Thank you again, Marshal,” she told him, slowly closing the
door.
    Marshal Hayes tipped his hat, grinned broadly and departed.
    ~~~
     
     
    Rose watched the hotel from a window in McIntyre’s room. The
spirits of her ancestors had told her these women would be trouble for her. Her
heart had burned with jealousy as she watched McIntyre let them in the
building. Then he had escorted the skinny, golden one to the bank. Rose would
not stand for another woman near her man; her plans were too delicate to be
upset. This town was hers; Mac was hers. She would simply have to teach these gringas their place.
    In an attempt to keep McIntyre in his, Rose lit a candle and
set it on his dresser. Reaching between her breasts, she pulled out a small
leather pouch from her corset. Working it open, she tapped a tiny amount of the
brown powder over the candle. It fizzed and sparkled, then released a heavy,
sweet scent into the room.
    She smiled, confident in her powers and her potions. The
scent would relax McIntyre’s mind and make her suggestions more enticing to
him. Satisfied she had used the right amount, she returned the pouch to her
hiding place. It was a powerful mixture of herbs and prayers. One pinch in the
candle eased the mind and the muscles. But a slightly larger amount in a glass
of whiskey made a man willing to disclose the value of his claim or even how
much gold dust he had in his pockets.
    The mood set, Rose reached into a small box of cosmetics she
kept on his dresser. She touched up her lipstick, deepening the red of her
lips, and sketched a heavy line of coal around her dark chocolate eyes. Surveying
her image in the full length mirror, she untied her silk robe and pushed her
corset higher to lift her generous bosom.
    Turning from side to side, Rose admired her curvaceous lines.
She liked the way her dark skin glowed against the pink silk undergarments and
her eyes flashed a dangerous, consuming fire. She didn’t really need the
powder, she knew, but the voices encouraged her to trust them for more and more
of their knowledge. She was desperate to gain all that she could. Pleased with
the image in the mirror, she pulled a jet black curl from behind her neck and
draped it between her breasts like an arrow pointing to