Elise Read online

  Boyd had been drinking most of the afternoon and he was ready for some good times. He was irritated when he arrived and found out that Sugar wasn't there. The night was long, though, and he didn't have anything else to do but wait for her to show up.

  The minute Dan saw Boyd come in, he'd sent word to Sam, the saloon owner Sam was angry over the way Boyd had treated Jenny the night before, and he wasn't happy to have the man back in his establishment. Still, Boyd's money was good, so he tolerated his presence.

  "Where is Sugar?" Sam asked Femada as he stood at the bar with her just after eight o'clock.

  "She'll be here anytime now. I know she will," she assured him.

  "What do you want to do about Boyd?"

  "There's nothing we can do unless he starts some trouble. We can't throw the man out for being a drunk. If we did that, we wouldn't have any customers left."

  Sam knew she was right, but he didn't like fights in his saloon. "Well, keep a close watch on things. I'll be back in my office if you need me."

  "Dan and I will keep an eye out for trouble," she promised.

  A few minutes later, Suzie came to tell her that Elise had arrived by the back door and was upstairs getting ready. Fernada couldn't decide whether to be glad the girl had shown up again, or to worry over what might happen now that she had. Silently, she hoped they would have a nice, normal evening at the High Time.

  After seeing Elise safely inside the High Time by way of the rear entrance, Trace entered the saloon, as ready as he would ever be for the night to come. He was not looking forward to it. He had even debated strapping on his sidearm for the evening. Keeping in character, though, he had decided against wearing the gun. When he saw that Boyd was already there, he hoped he hadn't made a mistake.

  "Give me a whiskey," he ordered as he went to stand at the far end of the bar. It was a quiet spot that afforded him a good view of the room.

  "Here you go," Dan said as he put a glass before him and splashed a healthy amount of liquor in it.

  "Thanks." Trace paid up, then turned to let his gaze sweep the room. He hoped it would be a quiet night, but he had his doubts-especially since Boyd was already there and obviously feeling no pain.

  The day had been a long one for him. He'd stayed at the house practicing his shooting for hours on end. He was definitely seeing some improvement and he hoped he could soon be heading out of Durango after the Harris gang. It had been too long already. He was growing weary of biding his time.

  "There she is!"

  Boyd's shout interrupted Trace's thoughts, and he looked up to see Elise starting down the steps into the saloon.

  It seemed that all eyes in the place turned to her as she made her descent. Elise smiled, belying the nervousness that assailed her at the sight of Boyd waiting at the foot of the steps for her.

  "Evening, everyone," Elise said. For a moment, her gaze sought out Gabe's, and she breathed a bit easier when she spotted him standing at the bar. It comforted her to know that he was there, though she really wasn't sure why. Certainly, Gabe would be little or no help if there was any real trouble with Boyd.

  "I knew you'd show up sometime tonight, woman!" Boyd was all but shouting as he leered up at her.

  Elise had not been looking forward to the evening to begin with, and now that Boyd was there, she was dreading the long hours to come. No matter how much she didn't want to do this, though, she reminded herself that, come midnight, she could walk away from the High Time and the life that went with working there. Suzie, Kate, Jenny, and Femada could not. She forced herself to remember that as she kept her smile from fading.

  "Evening, Boyd," she greeted him.

  "Its about time you came downstairs," he said loudly. "I been waiting for you."

  "I didn't know you'd still be in town," she said, trying to sound as welcoming as she could.

  "I stayed over just to see you again. I been missing you." He grabbed her and pulled her into an awkward embrace as she reached the bottom step.

  Elise wondered again why she did such indepth research for her reporting. Surely, realism had its limits-especially where this man was concerned.

  "Can I get you a drink?" she asked, wanting desperately to be free of him.

  "No, I don't want any more liquor tonight. I already had enough of that. It's you I want. I been thinking about you all day, and I been just waiting for tonight."

  He ran his hands up and down her back as he held her against him. She tried to resist being too close to him, and he enjoyed her efforts. Her resistance only served to arouse him more. He was certain she would be one wild woman when he got her upstairs in bed.

  "You know I only serve liquor, Boyd. There's no point in you expecting more."

  "But I'll pay you real good," he whispered in her ear.

  His breath was hot and moist and rancid, and her flesh crawled at that close contact.

  "I'm not interested," she ground out and with all her might she shoved at his shoulders. She couldn't believe that the night had just begun and he was already causing trouble.

  Elise's surprise move startled him, and it allowed her to free herself from his hold. She quickly skirted away from him, making sure to put a table between them. Boyd stared after her, the look in his eyes both angry and feverishly hungry for her.

  "You can't avoid me forever, Sugar," he said, nearly drooling.

  I can try! Elise thought as she smiled at him and headed in the opposite direction. She would have to keep him in sight all night so he didn't have the opportunity to sneak up on her.

  Trace had been watching from his place by the bar. His grip had tightened around his glass at the sight of Boyd whispering in her ear, and he'd been ready to go to her aid when she'd managed to free herself. He was seriously regretting that he hadn't worn his gun, but there were more ways than one to control men like Boyd. He'd done it often enough in Eagle Pass.

  "I'll take another," Trace called out to Dan, "and leave the bottle."

  The bartender poured his refill and set the bottle on the bar before him before going off to wait on another customer.

  The night passed slowly for Elise. What had been an adventure the previous evening was almost torture for her tonight. She watched the other girls and began to understand why Jenny drank so heavily Even Suzie and Kate were not averse to raising a few with their customers, and she knew why-they were alone. They had no life other than what went on at the saloon. They had been abandoned by family and. friends. They were despised by the "good" folks in town, and worst of all, they had no hope. Theirs was a very sad life, indeed.

  "Hank! Watch what you're grabbing!" Jenny shrieked in delight as the cowboy pulled her onto his lap and fondled her openly.

  "I am watching!" He laughed as he pressed hot kisses to her neck and the tops of her breasts.

  "If you want some fun, let's go upstairs!" she coaxed, her words slightly slurred from all that she'd been drinking. The whiskey helped ease the pain from her injured face. Her lip was swollen and her cheek was bruised where Boyd had hit her the night before. Even so, she was not about to miss a night with the boys around payday. This was their most important time of the month.

  "Oooh, baby, I am ready to go!" Hank stood up and swung her up in his arms. He started up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

  Jenny clung drunkenly to him as he rushed toward her room upstairs. She looked back over his shoulder as he carried her off, and across the width of the saloon her gaze met Elise's.

  Elise saw in the depths of Jenny's regard all the sadness and loneliness that was her life. She ached for the other woman, wishing there was some way to make things better for her. But then Jenny was gone, and it was too late to help her.

  It was in that moment that Elise let her guard down, and Boyd had been watching and waiting for just this opportunity. He was beside her instantly, his arm possessively around her waist, pinning her to his side.

  "Now, it's our turn," he told her, his gaze focused on her cleavage, a bit of spittle hanging
at the corner of his mouth.

  Elise tensed the moment he touched her, and she tried to spin free of him, but he held her pinioned.

  "Let go of me! I have customers to wait on," she said quickly, trying to twist free of his hold.

  "Oh, no. I'm the customer you're taking care of now-and do I ever need taking care of!" He laughed, his hand sliding up from her waist to caress the side of her breast. He could just imagine how she'd look lying naked on a bed, waiting for him. He grew hard just thinking about what he wanted to do to her. He'd been planning this all day, and he was ready. Nothing was going to stop him. If she gave him any trouble, he would pay her extra. After all, she was a whore.

  "1 said no!"

  Elise slapped one hand away, but he just groped her openly with the other.

  "You don't mean that. I'm gonna be real good to you-"

  "No, you're not." Fernada's stem words got his attention. "Let her go right now, Boyd. She ain't for you."

  "I'll pay her real good, don't worry." He started to pull Sugar toward the steps, meaning to follow Jenny and Hank upstairs.

  "Sugar ain't selling, Boyd. Now let her go and get out of the High Time," she ordered.

  "I been waiting all day for this, and I ain't waiting no longer!" he argued.

  "Oh, yes, you are!" Fernada insisted.

  "To hell with you. I said I'd pay!" He was bodily dragging a resisting Sugar toward the steps.

  Femada blocked his way. "Stop right there, Boyd."

  Elise was struggling to free herself from the bruising grip he had on her arm. "Let me go!"

  "I ain't letting you go 'til I get my fill of you, woman!" he snarled.

  "Boyd, we don't want any trouble with you. Find your pleasure with Kate or Suzie."

  "I don't want them! I want Sugar! Get the hell out of my way, or I'll take her right here and now in front of everybody!" he threatened, jerking her close to him again.

  "No! Gabe! Help!" Elise cried, twisting and tugging to get away from him.

  Boyd grabbed her by the waist with both hands and lifted her, all but throwing her on top of one of the tables. Elise landed heavily on her back, the wind knocked out of her. Boyd was chuckling with evil, lecherous intent as he started to lift her skirts and reach between her legs.

  Trace had had enough. Again he regretted leaving his sidearm at home, but it didn't matter. He had the whiskey bottle, and he'd used one as a weapon more than once, breaking up fights in the bars in Eagle Pass. His hand closed around the neck of the bottle, and he strode straight to where Boyd was leaning over Elise.

  "Sugar doesn't want anything to do with you. Let her go," Trace ground out.

  "Mind your own business, city boy. She wants me! She just likes it rough, that's all." Boyd wasn't worried about anyone stopping him. They didn't dare. His reputation was too well known. Everyone in town knew you didn't mess with him. He turned back to Sugar.

  But Boyd didn't know he was dealing with Trace Jackson.

  His words were the last straw Trace hit him full force with the bottle.

  The pain exploded in Boyd's head. With a grunt of agony, he collapsed heavily on top of Elise.

  Elise gave a shriek of horror at having his full weight upon her. Then when he was lifted off her, she scrambled from the table and stood watching stunned, as Boyd was tossed asideby Gabe, along with the whiskey bottle he'd used to knock him unconscious.

  "Oh, Gabe!" she cried, throwing herself into his arms. She was trembling in terror as she clung to him.

  "Get him the hell out of here before I'm tempted to do more to him than just give him a short nap that'll leave him with a headache!" Trace ordered harshly.

  The commanding tone of his voice sent other patrons of the saloon scurrying to do as he'd directed. They couldn't believe that the meeklooking man who'd been keeping to himself all night drinking at the bar had just laid a big, mean man like Boyd low with one blow-but he'd done it, and they'd seen him do it. They muttered in amazement among themselves as they dragged Boyd out of the High Time and left him lying outside in the street. As ornery as he was, they figured he didn't deserve any better.

  "You all right?" Trace asked Elise, softening his tone. He could feel the shudders wracking her, and he was furious over what had almost happened.

  Elise remained huddled against him, thankful for the solid, powerful strength of him. It was reassuring to know that he was therethat he had saved her. With an effort, she straightened her shoulders and leaned away from him. "Yes. I'm fine." She gave him a weak smile as she looked up at him.

  "You don't look fine," he growled, seeing how pale and shaken she was.

  "Sugar?" Fernada hurried toward them, with Dan and Sam close behind her.

  "I guess I'd better get back to work," Elise said quickly, feeling suddenly self-conscious.

  "Damn it, Elise! Don't even think about it! You're getting out of here now!" Trace was furious. She had just been attacked in front of a crowd by a vicious drunk, and she was thinking about going back to serving drinks again!

  "No, I have to-"

  He cut her off before she could say any more. "As your boss, I'm telling you that your days of working here are over! Get your things. We're going."

  "No, I-"

  At her protestation, Trace stopped caring about his Gabe image. In one smooth move, he picked her up, threw her bodily over his shoulder, and started to stalk from the saloon.

  "Let me down!" she shouted, pounding on his back as he stormed out of the High Time.

  Sam and Dan exchanged looks and started to go after them. They thought they were going to help Elise, but Fernada stopped them.

  "It's all right. She's safe with him. It's better this way," she told them in a quiet voice.

  "You sure?" Dan asked, frowning. He'd been wondering about Gabe. Fernada had told him that he was Elise's boss at the newspaper, and he had thought the man seemed to be the book-learning, mild-mannered sort. After watching him in action tonight, though, Dan wasn't so sure anymore. Gabe had known exactly what he was doing when he'd gone after Boyd with that whiskey bottle.

  "I'm sure," Fernada answered. Then, turning to the men who'd gathered around to watch what happened, she shouted, "Drinks are on the house! A free round for everybody!"

  A cheer went up as the patrons rushed forward to get their free drinks. Dan hurried off to wait on them.

  With all the men at the bar, Suzie went to stand with Kate in a quiet, deserted place near the front of the saloon.

  "Did you see that?" Suzie asked in amazement, peeking out the window to see where Gabe had taken Elise.

  "I saw it all right. Can you believe it? He actually carried her out of here over his shoulder!" Kate had never seen anything like it in all the years she'd been working there.

  "Do you think he cares for her?"

  "It certainly seemed that way. Why else would he save her from Boyd and carry her off like that?"

  "It was very romantic, wasn't it?" Suzie said, a half smile curving her lips. "Maybe one day, a man will come along who'll rescue me."

  Kate glanced over at her and saw the dreamy look on her face. "You better grow up, Suzie, and forget all your stupid, childish fantasies. There ain't no man going to show up at the High Time and sweep you off your feet."

  The momentary look of innocence that had haunted Suzie's expression disappeared. She glanced down at the low-cut, satin dress she was wearing. "You're right, I know-but wouldn't it be wonderful?"

  Suzie walked slowly away, leaving Kate standing alone wondering.

  "Put me down!" Elise demanded, hanging on to Gabe for dear life as he made his way to where he'd left the carriage. She was furious at his high-handed ways, but she was helpless to do anything about it.

  Trace wasn't about to put her down because he knew she'd just try to go back into the saloon. She could have been seriously hurt tonight. She had no business going back in there-ever. He was still seething when he reached the vehicle and put her on her feet beside it.

  "Get i
n!" he dictated tersely.

  "No, I need to go back. I need to get my things."

  "They're not going anywhere. Now get in. I'm taking you home."

  In a huff, she started to climb in, but found she was a little unsteady from all that had happened.

  When Trace thought she was moving too slowly, he took her by the waist and lifted her into the conveyance. He climbed in beside her, but didn't say another word as he took up the reins.

  Elise sat rigidly beside him. She occasionally cast a glowering look at him, but he ignored her, and that bothered her even more.

  In angry silence, Trace drove straight to her house. He was concentrating only on getting her as far away from the High Time and Boyd as quickly as he could. When the drunk came to, he was going to be in one helluva mood, and Trace didn't want Elise anywhere near the man. He drew to a stop in front of her house, only to find that the whole place was dark.

  "Where's your grandmother?" he asked worriedly, wanting to make sure she would be safe. "Has she gone to bed already?" It was only ten P.M., and he was surprised at how empty the house looked.

  "She had a meeting at church tonight."

  "You go inside and lock the door behind you, do you understand me?" He was dictatorial as he climbed down and then reached in to lift her out.

  "Who do you think you are, trying to tell me what to do? You're not my bodyguard!" she declared in angry defiance as she looked up at him.

  "Do you have any idea how close you came to being seriously hurt tonight?" He glared down at her, his patience with her stubbornness at an end. Though it was true that she was a very brave and smart woman to do the things she did as a reporter, there were obviously still some things about life she just didn't understand.

  Elise stormed up the walk. The wig had come loose, so she snatched it off, freeing her own thick, dark mane in the process. Trace stayed right beside her. When she reached the porch, she opened the front door and turned on him defiantly.

  "All right," she bit out. "You can leave now. I'm home."

  "Not until I'm sure it's safe here," he declared. He knew men like Boyd. They were mean and unforgiving. If the man found out where she lived, there might be more trouble tonight.