Read Online Tender Trust by Tanya Stowe - Free Book Online Page B

one of Penny’s best customers.”
    Alex studied the frayed edges of the man’s shirtsleeve and the grimy union suit beneath his unbuttoned collar. Frequent customer? Probably. Best? Alex seriously doubted it. “Well, I guarantee I’ll remember if you give me a name to go with it.”
    “Brady Calhoun.”
    He was the man Jann had called mean. Curious, Alex studied Brady. His eyes were blue, but filmy. His nose was red and bulbous from too much drink. As Brady talked, his gaze slanted around the room.
    Puzzled by his actions, Alex grabbed the bottle and unscrewed the cap for a drink on the house. “So tell me, Brady, if this Max was such a lousy barkeep, what kept you coming to The Copper Penny?”
    A sly, almost predatory look slid into his gaze. “Clean glasses. Good whisky and the finest lookin’ women in town.” As he spoke, he turned. With one elbow on the bar, he leaned back and sipped his drink as his gaze drifted across the room.
    Jewel was bent over a table. Her black gown was modest by saloon standards, but still the high neck revealed the curves of her breasts as she set glasses on a wooden tray. She didn’t smile or even talk to the men, but her movements were slow and inherently graceful. Her fragile eloquence was compelling.
    “Just watching her does things to you, don’t it?”
    Alex didn’t reply.
    “I been watchin’ her since she first came to town. ‘Course, she was Holloway’s woman then, and he’s one mean cuss.”
    Alex gave a start, but quickly controlled his surprise.
    “Once,” Brady continued, “I seen him slice a man’s face just for tryin’ to touch her. But he sure liked us to look. He’d dress her up in them fine, sparkling gowns and parade her around on his arm, darin’ anyone to come close. I used to think it might be worth the risk to feel her sweet little body up next to mine.” He inhaled with a slow whistle.
    Alex clamped down the anger building inside him. Brady’s attitude was exactly what Penny had talked about. The last thing Alex needed was for Brady Calhoun to confirm her point. Alex glanced around to locate Penny. She was all the way across the room, her hair woven back into its tight bun.
    “If Holloway was so protective, why’d he let Jewel go?” Alex’s tone was quiet.
    “Didn’t. She ran off. Straight into the arms of Miss Copper Penny herself.” Brady laughed and the sound of it grated on Alex. “Weren’t no safer place than those arms, neither.”
    “What do you mean?” Alex recognized the low, dangerous tone in his own voice.
    But Brady had had too much to drink to be cautious. He glanced up, his features sly. “Miss Penny keeps herself and everyone around her on the straight and narrow.” He studied Alex over his uplifted glass. “Everybody knows that. Unless, maybe you know somethin’ we don’t.”
    Alex had had enough of Brady. Screwing the lid on the bottle he placed it back on the shelf. “I know how to pour drinks and mind my own business.”
    Brady chuckled again. “Just the same. A good lookin’ fellow like you shows up and just steps into a job some men in town would give anything to have.”
    “What’s so special about this job?”
    “Two things. A brunette and a redhead all in one night. It makes a man’s head reel just thinkin’ about it.”
    Alex’s jaw clenched. “Not mine. I’m not so hard up to waste time dreaming about things that aren’t going to happen.” He turned his back as if the conversation was over.
    “I ‘spect that’s true. But it does make for a pretty picture,” Brady said in a low wistful voice. “But then, there’s the money.”
    Alex paused. “What money?”
    “Holloway’s. He wants to know everything about Miss Penny and her place, and he’s offerin’ cold hard cash to anyone with somethin’ to tell. I figure someone in your position could find plenty to tell.”
    Shock filtered through Alex. Holloway paid anyone on the street for information about The Copper Penny. No wonder the