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  When she looked confused, Rosario grabbed her by the hand and dragged her, pointing to an object she only knew the Spanish word for.

  Rosario was a short, rotund woman, her eyes squeezing shut when she smiled broadly. A long black braid, similar to Loretta’s, trailed down her back. Loretta had to walk a few steps behind the woman to avoid being whipped in the face by the braid when she turned around quickly, which happened more often than Loretta would have liked.

  Rosario smelled of cooking spices and something else Loretta couldn’t place, but seemed friendly enough.

  After a fast introduction to the restaurant business, Rosario picked up a pad and pencil and thrust them toward Loretta. “Now we wait. Not long,” Rosario said. The sound of arguing drifted from the kitchen area and Rosario harrumphed. She strode purposefully into the kitchen and flung the swinging doors open. “Hector! Carlos! What you do?”

  she exclaimed. A fine cloud of white filtered through the room. Loretta stifled a giggle as she watched two young boys with full heads of black hair and deeply tanned skin involved in hurling handfuls of flour at one another. They stopped instantly at the sound of Rosario’s voice and stood sheepishly looking at her with dark brown eyes that stood out against their now white faces.

  Rosario shook her head and spat out a string of Spanish. She was obviously chastising the boys, but there was no doubt in Loretta’s mind that Rosario loved the rambunctious children. Rosario glanced over her shoulder apologetically. “My niños,” she said with a shrug. Returning her attention to her children she said, “Clean up muy pronto and go to su padre.”

  The boys began scurrying around the kitchen casting shy smiles at Loretta.

  WITHIN THE NEXT week, Loretta quickly settled into a comfortable rhythm at Rosario’s. Rosario was happy because with the additional help she was able to open earlier and stay open later. Willis was happy to finally see the little café beginning to turn a respectable profit. Customers flowed easily between the saloon and the café and some of the local business people began having their families join them for an occasional evening meal.

  Mavis stood near the end of the bar and glanced through the archway leading into the café, watching Loretta move easily between tables with her arms laden down with steaming platters. She noticed the congenial way Loretta interacted with regular customers at Rosario’s, especially the male customers.

  She was quick with a laugh or a smile and the men seemed to be enchanted by whatever she said to them.

  However, Mavis noticed their wives didn’t seem quite as smitten. Loretta had a way of leaning closer to the men and touching their shoulder or arm lightly when she refilled their coffee cups or set a hot plate in front of them. She seemed equally friendly with the women, but there was just something unusually flirtatious about her behavior toward the men.

  Mavis picked up a glass of water and sipped it. To her it seemed obvious that the preacher’s sister-in-law was familiar with ways to please men. She had spoken to the waitress on a few occasions and found her to be friendly and charming. The men certainly found her attractive, which was always good for business.

  A young cowboy sauntered up to the bar next to Mavis and tipped his hat back. “Buy you a drink, Miss Mavis?” he asked.

  “You legal yet, Farley?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Today’s my birthday.”

  Mavis tapped a finger on the bar and called out to Willis, “Give this man a drink, Willis, and a shot for me!” She gave the cowboy a sultry glance. “Your folks know where you are?”

  “My pa does,” Farley said with a sheepish grin.

  “I’ll just bet he does,” Mavis said.

  The door to the saloon swung open hard enough to hit the wall as four men strode in and went directly to the bar. Thaddeus Garner slapped coins on the bar.

  “Whiskey, Manning. And leave the bottle,” he ordered. Clement Garner threw his shot down and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before he moved closer to Mavis and stepped in front of Farley.

  He wrapped an arm around Mavis’ waist and jerked her back against him suggestively. Obviously, he had overcome the humiliation of his previous visit.

  “Let’s go upstairs, Mavis,” he said.

  Mavis took his hand and removed it from around her. “I’ve already got a customer, Clement.”

  Clement Garner glanced over his shoulder and laughed. “He’s a pup, not even weaned off his mama’s tit yet.”

  “He’s a man today and we’ve already made an arrangement.” Mavis looked around Clement’s shoulder and winked at Farley. “Isn’t that right, Farley?”

  Clement Garner was no more than a couple of years older than Farley. Mavis was certain the boy was a virgin, but his innocence was sweet. She smiled and hoped he didn’t think people and cows fucked the same way.

  A smile lit up Farley’s face. “Yes, ma’am, it surely is.” Clement sneered as his eyes swept the younger man from head to toe. “He won’t last ten minutes.”

  Mavis moved away and took Farley’s arm. “That’ll be five minutes longer than you did.”

  Anger filled Clement’s face as the other men at the bar laughed. He took a step to grab Mavis, but was stopped by his father’s hand on his arm. “You walked into that one, boy,” Thaddeus said. “Try Monique or one of the other girls if you can’t keep it in your pants. We got all night.”

  Clement shrugged off his father’s hand and poured another shot. His eyes followed Mavis and Farley up the stairs to the second floor.

  THE SETTING SUN barely shone over the top of the Spanish Peaks when Clare, Ino, and, Frank Carson, rode into town to pick up the barbed wire she had ordered over a month before. She was still angry the order hadn’t arrived on their last visit. She took two rooms at the Columbian Hotel while Ino and Frank took their buckboard and horses to the livery stable before meeting again at the saloon for a drink and something to eat. Clare frowned when she saw her neighbor, Thaddeus Garner, standing at the bar.

  She nodded at Willis and waited silently for him to pour three shots.

  “I see you’re still insisting on running barbed wire on that property you’re squatting on,” Thaddeus said as Clare downed her drink.

  “Yeah. I’ve been having a problem with disappearing cattle,” she said.

  “It’s a hard life,” he said with a smirk.

  Clare motioned to Willis to pour a second shot.

  “You know, Thaddeus, I don’t know what your problem is with me, but I’ve never done anything to you. You’ve been a pain in my ass since you moved here and I’d like to know why. It can’t be just because I’m a woman.”

  “You’ll figure it out one day,” Garner said as he reached for his drink.

  “Let’s eat,” Clare said, grabbing her rifle and leading her hands into the café.

  Ino and Frank sat down while Clare took off her hat and hung it on the spindle of her chair. She rested her rifle against the edge of an extra chair. “Take your hats off,” she ordered. “This ain’t a barn.”

  Both men removed their hats and attempted to smooth their hair down with their hands.

  “What can I get you to drink?” a voice asked as menus appeared in front of each of them.

  “Coffee,” Clare answered flatly, picking up her menu and looking at the choices for the day.

  “Think we’re gonna have enough wire to finish fencing the property that butts up against Garner’s?”

  Ino asked as a cup of coffee was set in front of him.

  “If it ever comes in,” she grumbled.

  “Maybe Garner will give up for a while when they start their own branding,” Ino said.

  “I doubt it. We might have to put some extra night riders out on the fence line. At least until calving season is over. Otherwise Garner will rob me blind.”

  “The Army’s still wantin’ to buy our stock to feed the soldiers over at Fort Kearney,” Ino said.

  “I can get a better price by driving the herd to Pueblo,” Clare said. “But while we’re go
ne, the house and barn would be undefended.”

  “We can hire some extra hands to make the drive and leave four or five behind to guard the ranch,” Ino said. “There’s always herds comin’ up the Goodnight-Loving to Pueblo. Maybe you can combine your herd with one of those,” Frank suggested.

  “Maybe,” Clare said with a shrug. “I figure we’ll have a couple hundred head to take to Pueblo once we get through calving and branding. We could make the trip faster with only our herd. Maybe get them there before the bigger herds come north from Texas.” She sipped her coffee and watched the waitress chatting with a man, woman, and teenage girl across the room.

  The waitress was the same dark blonde Clare had seen in the saloon two weeks earlier. “Frank, once the branding is done, take a trip up to Pueblo and see who you can set up as a buyer. See if it would be worth it.”

  CLARE WATCHED THE attractive, young woman gather up empty plates from a table and carry them into the kitchen, bumping the swinging doors open with her hip. She re-entered the café, wiped her hands on her apron and returned to Clare’s table. “Sorry about the wait,” she apologized. “It’s busy this evening. My name is Loretta. What can I get for you this evening?”

  Clare saw Frank look at Loretta appreciatively as she and Ino placed their orders. She felt an unexpected twinge of jealousy when Loretta smiled and turned her attention to Frank. She couldn’t help but notice the blonde’s dazzling smile. Loud voices behind her caused Clare to look away. She frowned as Thaddeus Garner and his men noisily entered the café. They found a table facing Clare’s and continued carrying on raucously while Loretta took the orders to Rosario.

  “What you lookin’ at?” Clement sneered at the family seated at a nearby table. He was obviously intoxicated.

  The man at the table stood and quickly assisted his wife and children up and escorted them away from the table and toward the front counter. Clare frowned as the husband handed Loretta a few bills before shepherding his family outside.

  “Hey! How about some service over here?”

  Clement said loudly, banging on the table. He was laughing at the reactions of the other patrons until his eyes met Clare’s. She was facing him and shook her head slightly, continuing to drink her coffee. Her glare temporarily stopped his laughter.

  Loretta approached the Garner’s table to hand them menus and take their orders. Clare saw the leer in Clement’s eyes when he saw Loretta.

  “Well, if it ain’t the little ball buster,” Clement said as his hand rubbed against the crotch of his pants.

  There was going to be trouble. Clare could feel it and moved her rifle closer. Some people never learned, she thought. When Loretta left to get their drinks, Clement leaned forward and said something to the men at the table with him, which brought another round of laughter. The table Clare shared with her hands was close enough to Garner’s to overhear some of what was being said.

  Clare thought the waitress seemed uncomfortable as she returned to take the cowboys’ order. She set drinks in front of the men and asked, “What can I get for you gentlemen?”

  Clement stared at his menu. “You smell good enough to eat,” he said, smiling up at Loretta. “How about a double order of that?”

  “If you’re looking for a cheap lay go next door,”

  she said crisply. “If you want dinner I’ll be glad to take your order.”

  “That’s two rejections in one evening, Clement.

  Give it up,” one of the men said with a grin.

  “You think you’re too good for me?” Clement snapped.

  “I know I am,” Loretta retorted while maintaining her smile. “You’re drunk and need food in your belly.

  I suggest you start with a strong cup of coffee.” Clare admired the waitress’s feistiness as well as the calm way Loretta ignored Clement Garner while she wrote down the orders from the men with him.

  “Food up,” Rosario called out as she slid three steaming plates into the service window.

  Loretta walked purposefully back to the front counter and slid the Garners’ order across it to Rosario. Clare watched Clement follow her with his eyes. Loretta used a small towel to pick up the plates, balancing them carefully to avoid being burned, and carried them to Clare’s table. “Be careful of the plates,” she warned as she set them down carefully.

  “They’re very hot.”

  “Hey, McIlhenney!,” Clement said in a loud voice.

  “You still cozying up with that wetback? If you was a real woman, maybe you could find a real man.”

  Ino started to stand, but Clare grabbed his forearm and stopped him. “Not worth it,” she murmured.

  When Loretta re-approached the Garners’ table with drinks Clement leaned back in his chair and dropped a hand to his side. As he brought it up again, he ran it over Loretta’s ass and gave it a firm squeeze.

  Clare flinched when Loretta’s hand flew out and slapped his face. Laughter erupted from the men at his table and his eyes turned dark with fury. “Shut up!” he yelled as he stood and grabbed Loretta by the wrist. “Who the fuck do you think you are?” he growled, jerking her closer.

  “Let her go, Clement,” Clare’s dusky voice ordered.

  He threw Loretta’s arm away and glared at Clare while Loretta moved out of reach.

  “This is none of your damn business, so butt out, squatter,” Clement snarled.

  Clare’s eyes shifted around the room and saw everyone watching to see what would happen. Her eyes turned darker as she brought them back to stare at the cowboy.

  “You don’t belong in here with decent people, you pervert!” Clement spat.

  Anger suddenly flashed in Clare’s eyes and the men accompanying her winced slightly. “Now it’s worth it,” she muttered. She wiped her mouth with a napkin before slowly standing and walking around the table toward the drunken cowboy. “You should teach your boy better manners, Thaddeus,” she said, never taking her eyes off Clement.

  “He’s a grown man, McIlhenney,” Thaddeus grinned.

  Emboldened by his father’s response, Clement clenched his fist and spun toward Clare to strike her.

  But too much whiskey made it easy for her to side-step him. As he tried to swing a second time she grabbed his arm and slammed him into the table, face first. “No, no, no!” Rosario hollered as she sailed through the swinging door from the kitchen, rolling pin in hand. “Willis!”

  Within a matter of seconds the small eatery became a flurry of activity as Clare glared down at the bleeding man. Willis pumped the action of his shotgun and brought it to his shoulder. The doorway between the café and the saloon rapidly filled with curious on-lookers, some sipping from mugs of beer and hanging onto one of the bar girls.

  “Do somethin’, ya pussy!” a cowboy from the saloon called out with a laugh.

  “I’ll shoot the first one that makes a move,” Willis said as he took two steps into the café. “Get out while you still can, Clement,” Willis warned.

  “That bitch hit me for no good reason, Manning.

  Why don’t you throw her out?” Blood dribbled down Clement’s chin and small spatters flew from his lips as he spoke.

  “’Cause I reckon she ain’t the one actin’ like a damn jackass,” Willis stated, tossing Clement a napkin to staunch his bleeding. Clement wiped angrily at his face and threw the napkin down on the table.

  Willis escorted the Garners and their hands from the café and Rosario poked Loretta in the ribs, causing her to wince. “New customers,” she said, nodding at another table.

  Loretta stepped over to Clare’s table. “Thank you,” she said.

  Clare brought a forkful of enchilada to her mouth.

  “I could use a refill on the coffee.”

  Loretta nodded and left to serve her new customers.

  “You plan on seeing Mavis tonight?” Clare asked Ino as Loretta refilled their coffee cups. She watched a flush appear on her foreman’s ruddy cheeks and grinned. “Just get up in time to load that wire.” Frank laughed a
s they all relaxed again.

  Ino and Frank finally pushed their platters away and leaned back in their chairs.

  “Damn! That was good,” Frank sighed as he rolled a cigarette.

  Ino and Frank shared a match to ignite their cigarettes while Clare moved her eyes from table to table. She knew one or two of Rosario’s customers, but not the family she watched stand and walk toward the counter to pay their bill.

  Clare picked up the check for the meal and walked to the front counter. She nodded at the woman and young girl who stood to the side, waiting for the tall, gangly man Clare had seen Loretta speaking to earlier in the evening.

  “You should have tried the cobbler,” she overheard Loretta say.

  “This isn’t a safe place for you to work, Retta,” the man stated in a low voice, leaning closer in an attempt to not be overheard.

  Clare glanced over the baked goods on display in a glass case near the counter.

  “He was drunk, Cyrus. No one was hurt,” Loretta said calmly.

  “I can’t believe they allow customers to carry loaded weapons in here,” he continued.

  “Not exactly St. Joe, is it? Don’t worry. I’ve seen worse than this. Now take Miss Hettie and Amelia home and calm down.”

  “I’ll come back and escort you home when the café closes.”

  “That’s not necessary. That cowboy won’t even remember what happened when he sobers up.”

  Clare watched Loretta during her huddled discussion with the man. Their conversation seemed friendly enough, but she could see the worried look on man’s face. The waitress was a beautiful young woman, certainly beautiful enough for any man to want. Clare frowned as she waited to pay for her meal, certain that neither she nor the young waitress had seen the last of Clement Garner.

  WHEN CLARE AND her men returned to the saloon, bellies full, business had picked up. Clare spotted a poker game near the back of the saloon and excused herself to join it. Ino and Frank returned to the bar and ordered another drink. Ino had no sooner thrown the drink back than two arms slid around his chest and he caught the scent of flowery perfume.