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by to visit.”
    â€œStopped by? She had to hike up seventy-two stairs to get here. You’re going to wear a theater dress to a church meeting?”
    â€œYou said it was a beautiful dress.”
    â€œOf course, it’s beautiful . . . it’s just . . .”
    â€œDo you assume that all the girls at the Gem are immoral and unworthy of kindness?”
    Todd pushed his soup bowl toward the middle of the table. “Which one is she?”
    â€œAbby O’Neill.”
    â€œThe star of the show?”
    â€œSo I understand. Her real name is Mrs. Gordon, and her former husband is a doctor in Chattanooga. She assured me, her only performances were on the stage, and she did not work the boxes at the Gem.”
    â€œBut . . . but . . . when I encouraged you to get more involved in the community I didn’t mean with . . .”
    â€œI see. You want me to get involved with activities and people of your choosing only. While you, on the other hand, do business with any reprobate or sneakthief who has a dollar to spend, and see nothing wrong with trading shots with outlaws and stagecoach robbers.” She stood up and marched toward the bedroom.
    â€œAren’t you going to eat supper?” he called out.
    â€œI’m not hungry.”
    â€œCome back in here and sit down.”
    She paused at the doorway. “Is that an order?”
    Todd Fortune let out a deep sigh. “You’re right. It sounded like an order. Please, come on back in here. I’m tired, I don’t mean to sound so . . . so . . .”
    â€œContemptuous?” Rebekah finished. She returned to the kitchen and stood behind her chair.
    â€œSit down . . . please . . . let’s have supper and try this again,” he insisted.
    She seated herself, but refused to pick up her spoon.
    â€œTodd, it really is Deadwood. I love you dearly, and here I am getting angry with you. I don’t even understand it myself.”
    â€œListen, you can baby-sit for anyone you choose, and borrow any dress . . . providing it’s not risqué . . .” A sly grin spread across his face. “Actually, you can borrow the risqué ones too, but you can’t wear them out of the house.”
    â€œThere are some dresses I would not even wear for my husband, Todd Fortune. I have no intention of shocking the heavenly hosts. But, I really do like Abigail. I need to find my own place in Deadwood, Todd. I know that’s hard to understand, but maybe there are things for me to do that will be different than you.”
    â€œActually, it’s not that difficult to fathom.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œYou are Rebekah Fortune, not Todd Fortune. And I am Todd Fortune, not Henry ‘Brazos’ Fortune.”
    Rebekah snatched up both soup bowls.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” he asked.
    â€œI’ll reheat this soup. I like my French onion soup to be steaming.” She poured the rich brown broth soup back into the pan on the woodstove.
    â€œAnd what shall we do while we wait?”
    â€œLet’s keep it peaceful,” she suggested.
    â€œI agree, let’s don’t say anything at all.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œCome here.”
    â€œAnd what do you have in mind, Todd Fortune?”
    â€œYou could sit on my lap and we could practice kissing.”
    â€œI’ve kissed you before, Mr. Fortune, and I can assure you, you don’t need any practice.”
    â€œCome here!”
    â€œIs that an order?”
    â€œMore like a beg from a needy man.”
    â€œOh well, in that case,” Rebekah grinned. “It is my Christian duty to help the needy.”
    Rebekah perched on his knees and wrapped her arm around his neck. As their lips touched, the back door banged open.
    â€œOh! I’m sorry,” Dacee June blurted out. “I didn’t . . . I mean, I didn’t see the shades drawn or anything!”
    Rebekah stood up and brushed her skirt down. “That’s alright,