“We’re squared up now. Consider your debt paid in full.”
Giving a nod, Brigid said in a low voice, barely audible to Ever, “I hope it was worth it.”
Spencer smiled and, with his hand resting on the small of her back, led Ever out the door and into the blistering heat. “We need to stop by the saloon to collect Zeke before we head to the ship. I’d offer you lunch there, but—”
“That is quite all right. I do not believe you would have enough time to get me properly intoxicated before we needed to leave.” Ever froze as soon as the words left her mouth. What was she thinking? Fortune smiled down on her though, and Spencer didn’t even pause.
He spoke without breaking his slow, even stride. “And here I thought you were too disciplined to imbibe. Maybe I’ll have to test that someday when we aren’t in a rush to save a nation from ruin.”
Ever shook her head and caught up to him. She’d started the conversation and couldn’t shy away. “When we return with Laurette, I would think it the least I could do.” She cringed inside at the implication she would do more.
The unflappable captain urged her to the side of the road as a stagecoach thundered past. “I look forward to it. For now though—” he held the door to the saloon open, “—we need to drag Zeke back to the ship.”
Noise from an out-of-tune piano and too-loud voices made civilized conversation impossible, and the stench of spilled ale, sweat and urine made Ever thankful she didn’t need to open her mouth, much less eat in such an establishment. Spencer’s gaze swept over the crowd, and she realized she should aid his search if they wanted to depart.
Men in various states of intoxication lounged around, leaning on the bar or sitting at rickety tables playing cards and talking. In the back of the room, near the piano, several women in blouses that hung from their breasts swarmed around one table. The sea of skirts parted to reveal a grinning Zeke in the corner. With a sneer, Ever grabbed Spencer’s arm and pointed.
He rolled his eyes and mouthed, “Stay here.”
He might have said the words, but she couldn’t hear him over the din. Ever nodded and planted herself as near to the entrance as she could, hoping for the wind to pick up and blow fresh air through the swinging doors. Across the room, Spencer gently made his way through the women to Zeke.
The bright expressions on the women’s faces faded as the big man stood to leave. Then, as one, they turned toward Ever, trapping her in their gaze. She stood tall under the scrutiny. While she had no particular issue with prostitution, she would be thrice damned if she let them think they were better than her.
When the men finally reached her again, she turned to walk out, but a beefy arm wrapped itself around her waist and pulled her onto the lap of a man with unruly black hair and a scraggly beard. “Y’all ain’t leaving so soon, are you? The lady and I were just about to go upstairs and get acquainted.”
Ever stiffened. The way the man held her blocked access to the weapons on her belt. Otherwise her instincts would have taken over and she’d have killed him already.
Spencer planted Zeke by the door, and then stepped forward and took Ever’s hand in his while he spoke to the man. “Now, Andrew, she really isn’t your type, and we’ve got to get into the air again. There are plenty of ladies in this saloon who’d be happy for your money and attention.”
What was he doing? Not that she particularly wanted Spencer defending her honor, but if he was going to bother, couldn’t he at least pull a weapon?
“But I like this one.” The man’s fingers curled in Ever’s hair and tugged. She could hear him snuffling at the long strands. “She smells so sweet. And the way she walks around with all these toys on her belt—just makes me want to break her like a yearling filly. I promise it won’t take long.”
“Andrew—”
No. She was not about to put up with
Giving a nod, Brigid said in a low voice, barely audible to Ever, “I hope it was worth it.”
Spencer smiled and, with his hand resting on the small of her back, led Ever out the door and into the blistering heat. “We need to stop by the saloon to collect Zeke before we head to the ship. I’d offer you lunch there, but—”
“That is quite all right. I do not believe you would have enough time to get me properly intoxicated before we needed to leave.” Ever froze as soon as the words left her mouth. What was she thinking? Fortune smiled down on her though, and Spencer didn’t even pause.
He spoke without breaking his slow, even stride. “And here I thought you were too disciplined to imbibe. Maybe I’ll have to test that someday when we aren’t in a rush to save a nation from ruin.”
Ever shook her head and caught up to him. She’d started the conversation and couldn’t shy away. “When we return with Laurette, I would think it the least I could do.” She cringed inside at the implication she would do more.
The unflappable captain urged her to the side of the road as a stagecoach thundered past. “I look forward to it. For now though—” he held the door to the saloon open, “—we need to drag Zeke back to the ship.”
Noise from an out-of-tune piano and too-loud voices made civilized conversation impossible, and the stench of spilled ale, sweat and urine made Ever thankful she didn’t need to open her mouth, much less eat in such an establishment. Spencer’s gaze swept over the crowd, and she realized she should aid his search if they wanted to depart.
Men in various states of intoxication lounged around, leaning on the bar or sitting at rickety tables playing cards and talking. In the back of the room, near the piano, several women in blouses that hung from their breasts swarmed around one table. The sea of skirts parted to reveal a grinning Zeke in the corner. With a sneer, Ever grabbed Spencer’s arm and pointed.
He rolled his eyes and mouthed, “Stay here.”
He might have said the words, but she couldn’t hear him over the din. Ever nodded and planted herself as near to the entrance as she could, hoping for the wind to pick up and blow fresh air through the swinging doors. Across the room, Spencer gently made his way through the women to Zeke.
The bright expressions on the women’s faces faded as the big man stood to leave. Then, as one, they turned toward Ever, trapping her in their gaze. She stood tall under the scrutiny. While she had no particular issue with prostitution, she would be thrice damned if she let them think they were better than her.
When the men finally reached her again, she turned to walk out, but a beefy arm wrapped itself around her waist and pulled her onto the lap of a man with unruly black hair and a scraggly beard. “Y’all ain’t leaving so soon, are you? The lady and I were just about to go upstairs and get acquainted.”
Ever stiffened. The way the man held her blocked access to the weapons on her belt. Otherwise her instincts would have taken over and she’d have killed him already.
Spencer planted Zeke by the door, and then stepped forward and took Ever’s hand in his while he spoke to the man. “Now, Andrew, she really isn’t your type, and we’ve got to get into the air again. There are plenty of ladies in this saloon who’d be happy for your money and attention.”
What was he doing? Not that she particularly wanted Spencer defending her honor, but if he was going to bother, couldn’t he at least pull a weapon?
“But I like this one.” The man’s fingers curled in Ever’s hair and tugged. She could hear him snuffling at the long strands. “She smells so sweet. And the way she walks around with all these toys on her belt—just makes me want to break her like a yearling filly. I promise it won’t take long.”
“Andrew—”
No. She was not about to put up with
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