Lily Read online

  "That's as may be," Lily said, her chin jutting doggedly, "but there's no point going into all that. I'm already here." She stopped and whirled to face Zac. "Why can't I stay with you until I get settled?"

  "Your brain must have been eaten away by all that smoke on the train!" Zac exploded. "You can't stay with me."

  "Why not?"

  "The saloon is no place for a woman. Even Rose won't go there. You'll never survive here on your own. You ought to go straight back home."

  He turned her around and headed her down the boardwalk once more.

  "I've seen quite a few women since I arrived, many of them mothers and young girls. I don't see why I can't succeed if they can. Is there some weakness you see in me I don't know about?"

  Flower women Zac thought angrily to himself. All you had to do was name them for something that smelled good and looked pretty and they thought they could do anything.

  "You'll have to take my word for it," Zac said. "You don't know the West. I do."

  "You're just like all the Randolph men I ever knew," Lily said without heat. "You think all you have to do is make a pronouncement and women will hop to obey. My mother is like that. I don't doubt yours was as well. But I'm a Sterling, and I don't hop for any man. If you wish me to give your opinions any consideration, you'll have to give me some facts."

  He could do that. She needn't think her angelic face was going to paralyze his brain.

  "Fact number one: you don't have a job. I'll lay odds you're broke. I'm certain you used nearly every cent you had to get out here. Fact number two: people get killed out here for no reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You could get shanghaied off the street and end up in a brothel on the other side of the world. Fact number three: you know nothing about the West, its people, or what it takes to stay alive here. Beautiful women get used up overnight. Young ones simply disappear. Fact number four: you'll hate everybody and everything you see. Your rigid Virginia morals will be so outraged you'll be begging to go home inside a week."

  "In that case, you can stop worrying about me. Surely I can survive seven days on my own."

  But Zac wasn't certain. From what Jeff told him, the Salem branch of the Sterling family was a rigidly moral bunch who had no tolerance for behavior that didn't conform to their standards.

  She wasn't his responsibility. Their relationship was a fact of birth, not of choice. He had never taken custody of anyone, and he wasn't about to begin with an innocent, narrow-minded, ignorant female from Salem, Virginia.

  "You don't have to worry about me," Lily said, pulling her elbow from Zac's grasp. "I can stay in that young ladies' hotel."

  Following the direction of her gaze, Zac found himself staring at the elegant facade of Salem House, the most expensive and most exclusive house of prostitution in San Francisco.

  Chapter Two

  Salem House had a summer ritual known to every man in this part of San Francisco. Each evening, promptly at 6:30, six of the girls would come out on the porch. They would talk among themselves, even have tea on occasion, but they would ignore the men in the street. At seven o'clock, the girls would go back inside. That was the signal that Salem House was open for business.

  Zac took Lily by both elbows and started her moving again.

  "That's not a rooming house."

  "It looks like one."

  "It isn't."

  "How do you know?"

  "Because I've been . . . I just know. Besides, it's full."

  "How do you know?"

  "A place like that is always full on Friday night."

  Lily looked over his shoulder at the pretty girls in the lovely dresses. "They look very nice."

  "They're paid to look nice."

  "Maybe I could get a job there."

  Zac hurried her along. "You don't need a job. You're going back to Virginia on the first train."

  "I can't," Lily told him. "I don't have enough money."

  He was prepared for that. "I'll buy your ticket."

  "I can't let you do that. It's not proper."

  "It's a damned sight more proper than you trying to get a job in that lady's boarding house."

  "It's not proper to curse, either. Papa says it's a sign of an unprincipled heart and a limited intellect." Before Zac could return the scalding retort that sprang to his lips, she continued, "I know that's not true of you. Everybody says you're crafty as a weasel."

  "What bastard said that?" Zac thundered. "And don't tell me I'm cussing. I know it."

  "One of your brothers. I can't recall which. Rose said you used to be a little devil. She also said you hadn't changed much."

  Zac regretted attending that family reunion from the moment he stepped through the door. His brothers had spent most of their time criticizing him and insisting he reform his character and amend his way of life. By the time he stalked out, he was so blazing mad he'd poured any number of ill-considered remarks into this female's ears and topped off his folly by inviting her to come see him.

  "Let that be a lesson to you," Zac said. "Never go to a family reunion unless you want to have your shortcomings served up as the main course at breakfast, lunch, and dinner to be discussed in great detail and lamented at great length."

  Lily laughed. "I don't think your brothers would approve of your saloon."

  Zac chuckled. "Monty would, if Iris would let him."

  "I liked Iris," Lily said. "Monty, too."

  Zac felt a chill settle around his heart that was more icy than the fog drifting in off the bay. The name Lily reverberated in his head. It didn't matter that he didn't want to get married, that he had no desire to fall in love. None of his brothers had wanted to get married, either.

  "Turn here," Zac said, directing Lily's footsteps up a steep street. "Bella Holt's rooming house is at the top."

  At first Zac was surprised how easily Lily climbed the hill. She actually reached the top a step ahead of him. Then he remembered Salem was in the mountains. She probably didn't know how to walk on flat land.

  "This is not nearly as pretty as the house with the women on the porch," Lily said when she came to a halt before Bella's steps.

  Unlike Salem House, Bella's home was a tall wooden structure of three floors and a basement built in the Italianate style with bracketed cornices. Not quite two full rooms wide, a circular bay on the front projected out from the house the same distance as the steep stairs leading up from the street. The orangish-brown paint did nothing to enhance its appearance.

  "Rooming houses aren't supposed to be pretty," Zac explained as they mounted the steps, "especially if they cater to young ladies. They don't want to attract attention to themselves."

  "I shouldn't think it could be called attracting attention to oneself not to look like a dreary bird," Lily said.

  Zac smothered a chuckle. "I wouldn't mention that to Bella. She's quite proud of her house. Besides, you shouldn't complain. You're dressed all in black."

  "Papa says bright colors and fancy dresses lead to dangerous frivolity. He says it encourages young girls to give too much consideration to physical appearance and not enough to spiritual being. He said it encourages young men to do pretty much the same thing."

  "That's bad?"

  "Of course. A person can't be solely concerned with himself without becoming thoroughly selfish."

  Zac was sure her words had been meant for him.

  "Of course, I haven't always agreed with Papa. He thinks people who allow themselves any sort of fun are pawns of the Devil. Do you believe that?"

  "Hell, no! If everybody thought that, I'd be out of business."

  "Papa says--"

  "I don't want to hear any more of what your Papa says," Zac knocked on the door. "He sounds too much like Jeff."

  "I like Jeff."

  "Well you wouldn't if he was forever calling you a wastrel, a good-for-nothing likely to end up in an alley with some unmentionable disease."

  "No, I don't think I'd like that."

 
Zac was feeling more charitable toward her until she added, "Even if it were true."

  "Well, it's not," he snapped, wondering whether it might not be better if he put her on a train tonight.

  "Of course not," Lily agreed. "I never thought it was. I just meant one wouldn't like to hear that even if it were true."

  Zac decided their conversation was beginning to coil around him like a snake. He was greatly relieved when Bella's maid opened the door.

  Zac launched in without preamble. "This is my cousin. She needs a room for the night."

  The girl stared at Zac, her eyes wide with curiosity. He couldn't tell whether she believed Lily was his cousin, but he doubted it. Probably too many men came here claiming to be looking for lodgings for cousins, nieces, aunts, daughters, and sisters-in-law.

  "If you'll step into the parlor, I'll let Mrs. Holt know you're here."

  Zac could tell Lily didn't like the look of the place. She looked like she thought something was about to jump out at her from behind one of the chairs. Come to think of it, he didn't like it much, either. Too dark and gloomy. With all the overstuffed chairs, shawls draped over everything, and dreary pictures staring at you from the walls, you'd think Bella was running a funeral home.

  "You might as well have a seat," Zac told Lily. "No telling how long it'll take Bella to make herself presentable."

  Lily didn't move. "I don't like it here," she said. "It's dark and stiff and mean looking."

  "Sounds like the kind of place your father would approve of."

  "Maybe, but I'm the one staying here, and I don't like it."

  Zac chose a chair and sat down. "Meet Bella first. She's not a cheery woman, but she's probably your sort."

  "If she chose the furnishings for this room, she's definitely not my sort," Lily replied. "Can't we go someplace else?"

  "There aren't many places for a respectable, single woman to stay," Zac said. "And don't mention that house with the pretty women again. If you must know, it's a place where men go when they don't have wives to go home to."

  Lily regarded him in silence for a moment. "Or where they go when they have wives they don't wish to go home to?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

  "That, too, I expect," Zac said, not entirely pleased with Lily's quick understanding. "Now sit down and stop giving me the third degree."

  But Lily didn't sit. She made a slow circuit of the room, subjecting everything in it to close scrutiny. Zac had no desire to make an inventory of Bella's taste, but he found his gaze following Lily as she moved about the room.

  She might say she was fed up with her tiresome Papa and wanted a bit of fun, but Zac recognized her type. Her bit of fun would hardly be a bump on what he saw in a single night. She wasn't the kind to like some man for a time then effortlessly transfer her affections to another when he disappeared or looked elsewhere. No, once she loved some man, she'd love him forever.

  That was the most dangerous kind of woman in the whole world, faithful, loving, and virginal. Zac was more determined than ever that Lily should leave town as soon as possible.

  But as his gaze continued to follow her around the room, he realized that until now he hadn't really noticed any aspect of her appearance other than her face and hair. The rest of her was equally eye-catching. He didn't know what maggot had gotten into her father's head to make him think black bombazine could obscure the fact she had a tantalizing figure. He was certain all those mountain boys had noticed.

  She had a slim waist, the kind that made a man want to reach out and put his hands around it. But its real significance was that it drew attention to her bosom, a thing not easily ignored. Not by Zac anyway. He could easily imagine its softness and warmth, the feel of her breasts as he kissed her nipples to hard peaks.

  Zac had seldom been called upon to rely only on his imagination in situations such as this. By the time Bella arrived, he was squirming in his seat.

  Bella didn't look happy to see him. She didn't look any more delighted with Lily. The more closely she looked at her, the more unhappy she seemed.

  "Ellen tells me you're wanting a room for your cousin." She raked Lily with a searing gaze. "Is this the cousin you had in mind?"

  Bella quickly discovered she'd said the wrong thing.

  "The Bible says, Judge not lest ye be judged," Lily quoted, her expression stern.

  "If I didn't judge," Bella replied, not backing down an inch, "no telling what kind of female I'd have trying to put up here."

  "I have no fears on that score," Lily answered, her expression unrelaxed. "I doubt much gets by you."

  Lily's remark seemed to gratify Bella a little, but not enough to ensure her wholehearted acceptance.

  "You'll forgive me if I'm not as accepting as you'd like, but your cousin keeps some questionable company."

  Zac was irked at Bella for acting the stiff-necked moralist. She damned well ought to know the girls who worked in his saloon were honest and hardworking. She used to work there herself.

  "You shouldn't judge Zac by the company he keeps or the women by their jobs," Lily said. "I imagine many of them had little choice."

  Bella threw Zac a glance full of resentment. She still looked like she smelled something bad, but she forced herself to smile. Smart woman. She'd better not push him too far. There were lots of people who'd be very interested in knowing what Mrs. Bella Holt did before she opened this boarding house.

  "What you say is very true," Bella said. "But you must understand that in my position I have to be very careful."

  "I'm sure you do, but I'm certain Zac respects you too much to take advantage of your trust."

  Zac nearly laughed aloud. That ought to have pulled the last of Bella's fangs.

  Bella's smile was strained, but it was a smile.

  "My name is Lily Sterling," Lily said, taking control of the conversation. "I arrived only this evening. I'm sure Zac would have reserved a room ahead of time, but my letter got lost in Virginia City. He was even less prepared for my appearance than you. I do hope a room can be readied without too much trouble."

  "My rooms are always ready," Bella replied. "They're as clean and neat as any you'll find, even in those grand hotels downtown."

  "I need only modest room," Lily said.

  "Give her your big one on the front," Zac said. "I don't want anybody saying I put my cousin in a poky little hole."

  "I don't have any poky little holes," Bella snapped, happy to vent some of her irritation at Zac. "It'll cost extra."

  "When it's family, cost is no object." Zac swallowed hard. He'd never said anything like that in his whole life. No telling what Bella would charge him now.

  Bella smiled like a self-satisfied cat. "Is that bag in the hall all you've got?" she asked Lily.

  "No. I have a trunk that went to Sacramento by mistake and a larger suitcase still at the station."

  "What?" Zac said, sitting up with a start.

  "You can't expect a respectable woman to dress herself out of a single bag," Bella said, apparently reassured by the quantity of Lily's luggage. "You have a seat," Bella said to Lily. "I'll have Ellen bring you some coffee. Have you had anything to eat?"

  "I'm afraid not. With the excitement of arriving and trying to find Zac, I forgot all about food."

  "We've got some pork roast. It won't take but a minute to heat it up along with some potatoes, peas, and pan bread."

  "You sure it won't be too much trouble?"

  "I'm paying her to take the trouble," Zac said.

  Bella smirked at him. He made a mental note to have a talk with her once he hustled Lily back to Virginia.

  "You settle with Zac about the luggage," Bella said to Lily, "and I'll be right back with your dinner. Then you'll have to leave," she said to Zac. "I don't allow men in my house after dark."

  "You never told me you had more luggage," Zac said as Bella left the room.

  "I might be a preacher's daughter, but I do have more clothes than I can stuff into one small suitcase."

&nb
sp; Zac thought it looked like a rather large suitcase, but he abandoned the topic. It was much more important that he convince Lily to go back to Virginia.

  "It's just as well the trunk's at the station. All you'll have to do is have them reload it on the train. I'll get Dodie to find the train schedule. I've got one somewhere. If not, Tyler will have one. When you run the biggest hotel in town, you have to know the exact departure and arrival time of every train, ship, and stagecoach in San Francisco."

  "I have no intention of returning to Virginia tomorrow," Lily stated, her chin assuming an alarmingly obstinate tilt.

  "Well you can't stay in San Francisco," Zac said, his patience at an end. "And don't starting yammering about me inviting you. Anybody with a grain of sense would know I was in a temper and didn't know what I was saying. Besides, nobody but a simpleton would head off to Virginia City just like that." Zac snapped his fingers. "You could have been dead by now."

  "I'm not."

  "And wipe that wounded expression off your face. It won't do you a bit of good. Good God, girl, don't you know what kind of reputation I have? I'm the last person you should come to for protection. Didn't you listen to a word Jeff said?"

  "But you said it wasn't true. You said--"

  "Of course I did. Do you expect me to stand around letting that sanctimonious blockhead call me a layabout and a shyster and not call him a liar? I've got my pride."

  "But--"

  "Don't start butting. I'm a gambler. I run a saloon. I consort with the worst elements of society. Your mother would probably cross the street to keep from meeting the women I employ."

  "If I don't do anything disgraceful--"

  "You don't have to do anything, just have people think you did. If you have anything to do with me, they'll think plenty."

  "Are you so terrible?"

  Her question surprised him. He let out a crack of laughter. "I guess I did make myself sound right awful."

  "Yes, you did," Lily agreed, her smile uncertain.

  "I'm no criminal, but I might as well be as far as you're concerned. Now be a good girl. Eat your dinner, have a good night's sleep, and we'll get you on the train first thing in the morning."