Sarah's Surrender (30 page)

“Don't cheat Sarah out of the chance to help someone in need.”

“You're right.”

Luke straightened. “I like hearing that.”

“Don't get used to it.” He tossed his reins to Luke. “I'll get Cody. You might want to saddle your horse.”

“I already did.”

“I'm not surprised.” His heart warmed at his friend's dedication. “You were coming along whether I wanted you or not.”

“Yep. Friends watch their friends' backs.”

Jack chuckled as he walked toward his tent. The Lord sure had blessed him with good friends and family.

Thirty minutes later, Jack waited behind a tree out back of the saloon where Sadie worked. He had no idea when she'd come outside—or
if
she would. Did she even remember that this was the night he'd promised to meet her?

A door creaked, and he slipped behind the tree. As dark as it was at the back of the lot, he doubted anyone could see him. Still, he needed to use caution. He leaned to his right and peered around the trunk. His heart bucked. There she was. But she wasn't alone.

A bearded man in overalls pawed at her as she tried to slip out the back door. “Aw, Sid. Leave me be. It's time for my smoke.”

“I don't mind keepin' you comp'ny, darlin'.”

“Go back inside, and I'll make it worth your time later.” She pasted a smile on her face that made Jack's belly churn. No woman should have to live at the beck and call of a man's lust.

“Promise?” The old geezer licked his lips and leaned forward.

Sadie grabbed hold of his beard and turned his head, placing a kiss on his leathery cheek.

Jack thought he heard the man chuckle. Sadie slipped out the door, free and clear, while the geezer disappeared inside. She glanced around as if looking for him. She muttered a curse. “I knew better than t'trust a man. They never keep their promises.”

Jack eased around the tree. “I do.”

She jumped then glared at him. After a long moment, she started toward him, but footsteps came toward the door. Jack ducked behind the trunk.

“What do you want?” Sadie obviously despised whomever it was she was talking to.

“Just checking on you. How come you're out here?”

“I finished with my last bum and needed some fresh air.” She barked a harsh laugh. “The cowpoke smelled as if he'd been rollin' around in cow patties. It sickened my stomach.”

The man guffawed. “Hurry back in before the boss notices you're gone.”

“Thanks, Gus. I appreciate that you watch out for me.”

“Always have. Always will.”

After a few long moments, Sadie's posture relaxed. Then suddenly she turned and ran toward Jack.

He grabbed her, pulling her behind the tree.

“We gotta go. Now!”

“All right.” Jack peered toward the door and saw no one. “C'mon.”

He grabbed Sadie's hand, ignoring how she wreaked of smoke and booze—a pale comparison to the flowery perfume Cora used to wear.

“Hold it right there.” The man who'd thrown most of the punches at him last week stepped out the door, his gun trained in their direction.

Sadie uttered a noise like an animal caught in a trap.

“Shh …” Jack held tight to Sadie's hand for fear she'd run back to her prison.

“No. You hold it, mister, and drop that gun while you're at it.” Luke stepped out of the shadows of the alley with a bandanna covering the lower half of his face.

“Let's go,” Jack urged her. She ran toward his horse and had her foot in the stirrup before he got there. He reached behind her to boost her up, but there was no decent place for him to put his hands. Thankfully, she mounted on her own. Jack slid on behind her, reached around and grabbed the reins, and then turned his horse and gun toward the man at the door.

“Get back inside before I blow a hole in your knee.” Luke played the part of a reckless henchman well.

“You'll regret this. All of you.” The man backed inside the door then turned and moved out of sight.

Luke saluted Jack with his gun then backed away, disappearing in the dark alley.

“Hold on.” Jack parked his heels in his horse's side, and the animal leaped forward. He turned his horse in the opposite direction of Sarah's house and raced away from the Hairy Dog Saloon, fearing the men would follow. Once out of town, he reined his horse back toward her house.

“Yeehaw!” Luke rode out of the shadows.

Sadie jumped.

Jack glared at Luke, though he doubted his friend could see his expression. “Good thing both my hands are occupied, or you'd have a bullet hole in you. ‘Bout scared me half to death, you numbskull.”

“Howdy, ma'am. My name's Luke McNeil.”

“Sad— Um … Charlotte VanBuren. I can't thank you enough for helpin' your friend get me free of that horrible place.”

“Happy to do so.”

Jack rolled his eyes as he shook his head. Leave it to Luke to take all the glory.

A
t the sound of riders approaching, Sarah turned down her lantern then opened the door and peeked out. In the moonlight, she recognized the light color of Luke's horse, and she could see enough to know that there were two riders on the other horse. When Jack had explained he'd been helping a saloon girl, she'd actually been relieved and chastised herself for doubting his good character.

She braced herself to host a guest. If only she had some parlor furniture or a place to sit. Hopefully, the fact that her home was a sanctuary away from that nasty saloon and horrid life where the woman lived would be enough. She rushed outside to the porch railing. “It's about time you got here. I've been so worried I nearly wore a hole in my new floors.”

The horses stopped, snorting and prancing from their ride. Good thing there was a three-quarter moon tonight so they could see their way easily and safely. Luke hopped off Golden Boy and held the reins of Jack's horse while he helped the woman dismount. He escorted their guest up the stairs while Luke took the horses to the pasture. It wouldn't be good if men came looking for Sadie and found the horses still saddled and standing out front.

Sarah slipped inside and turned up the lantern just enough that they could see. She smiled, although the fresh wood scent of her home was replaced by the malodorous stench of smoke and whiskey. “Welcome to my home. I wish I had more to offer, but I've just moved in.”

Sadie laughed. “I'd stay in a pigpen if it got me outta that ghastly place.” She sobered and looked around the dim room. “I bet it'll be real nice here once you get furniture.”

Sarah's heart softened toward the rough woman. “Thank you.” She looked at Jack. “You'd best grab Cody and get to your tent in case we have any unwelcome visitors.”

“Yes, ma'am.” He started for the stairs then paused. “Sarah will take good care of you. I'll see you in the morning, and we'll make plans on gettin' you away from this area.”

Sadie walked up to Jack and lightly touched his arm. “I wasn't real sure if you'd come back after the beatin' you took last week. Most men wouldn't have attempted to help someone like me in the first place. I don't know how to thank you.”

Jack smiled. “You're welcome, and you can thank me by never going back to your old life. And that's what the saloon is—your
old
life. In the Bible, there's a verse—Second Corinthians 5:17—that says, ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.' When you get away, I hope you'll find a Bible and read that for yourself. You can not only leave the saloon and start completely over, but God can wash away past indiscretions and make you new on the inside. I know, because he did that with me—and my sister Jo, who used to live in a brothel.”

Sadie sucked in a loud gasp. “Is that true?”

Jack touched her shoulder. “It is. Sarah can tell you more if you want to know about her tonight, but I should get my son and hurry to my tent. I'd like to look disturbed from my sleep if any of those henchmen from the saloon happen to come this way.”

“Go—and thank you.”

Jack nodded then hurried up the stairs.

“I have a bucket of water in my kitchen area if you'd like to wash off. Once Jack has left, I'll give you one of my nightgowns. I'm glad you came, Sadie.”

The woman stiffened for a moment then turned from watching the stairs. “My real name is Charlotte VanBuren. I'd like to go back to it now that I'm starting over. Would you mind calling me Charlotte or Lottie?”

“Of course not. Whatever you prefer. And please call me Sarah.”

“Then Lottie, it is. Thank you for your kindness.” She batted her eyes as if struggling not to cry.

Sarah heard Jack on the landing and lifted the lamp so that he could see to descend. Once he was down, she opened the door. “Good night, and thanks for what you did. It was a good thing.”

He nodded, cast a quick glance toward Lottie, and then left. Sarah closed the door and locked it then walked through the empty parlor to her bare kitchen with Lottie following. A small dressing table had been in the load of furniture that had arrived, and she'd put it in the kitchen so she'd have a place where she could wash up. “I'll run upstairs and get some things for you to wear if you want to go ahead and wash off. I'm sorry I can't offer you a bath.”

Lottie gazed down at her clothes. “I imagine I must smell something awful to you, not to mention how I look.”

“Please, think nothing of it. I don't tell many people this, but I'm sure it will surprise you to learn that my father owned the bordello where Jack's sister was all but held hostage. When I was still a girl and my mother was near death, he came to get me and took me to live with him.”

Lottie's eyes widened. “In a bawdy house?”

“Yes. He did keep me separate from the women for the most part, but he couldn't hide the awfulness of the place. It was so bad that I gladly left with Jo when she ran away.”

“Thank you for telling me. I guess you would understand more than most.”

“I admire you for taking the risk to get away from that place. I know it wasn't easy, and I'm sure you have fears for the future, but we'll help you, so please try not to worry.”

Lottie's lashes fluttered. “Thank you.”

“I'll leave this lantern for you and run upstairs.”

“Won't you need it?”

“There's another one in my bedroom. I left it for the children.”

Lottie frowned. “You mean there's more than one?”

Sarah chuckled. “Yes. I'll explain about Claire when I come back.” She hurried away, glad she'd told Jack to bring Lottie to her house. She'd been hesitant at first, fearing trouble and not wanting anything to upset Claire, but the decision to bring Lottie here was the right one. Like Jo, another woman would be escaping the horrible, degrading life of a prostitute. She prayed as she climbed the stairs that Lottie would come to know God's love and the freedom and hope that came with His forgiveness.

Holding her skirt back from the open fire, Sarah leaned down and flipped the fish she was frying for supper. She straightened and turned to Zelma. “What time will you be leaving tomorrow?”

“At sunrise. We want to be sure to get an early start.”

Sarah nibbled her lip and stared at her house where Lottie was watching Claire. “Do you think our plan will work?”

Zelma set a crock of butter and two jars of jam on the tailgate of her wagon. “I don't see why not. After gettin' a look at that pretty gal at our noon meal, Zach and Zeke are bickerin' between themselves over who gets to pretend to be Lottie's husband on the drive to Cottonwood Grove.”

Sarah wondered how Lottie would react to the twins arguing over her. It wasn't as if one of them was actually marrying her. She hoped Lottie would feel honored rather than uncomfortable by the men's eagerness to pretend to be married to her.

“You think my boys made Lottie uncomfortable?” Zelma carried the platter of corn bread to the tailgate.

Sarah peeked at the fish. Almost done. “Why do you ask?”

“I noticed she kept her eyes down durin' most of the noon meal.”

“Your men were very kind to her, but it was obvious that she was uncomfortable with so many males present. I should have made it clear to Lottie that no one told them about her former vocation. Only you and your husband are aware of it, because I couldn't ask for your help unless you knew the whole truth.”

“Prob'ly a wise idea not to tell them. I'm not sure how my boys would'a reacted to learnin' that. It's better they don't know so they can treat her like a young woman deserves.”

“I'm so glad you feel that way. After all you've done for me, I didn't like the idea of deceiving you. I'm glad Jack and Lottie agreed we should explain things to you and Mr. Peterson.”