There was a soft knock on her door, and Jewel poked her head in. “He’s here.”
“Thanks. I’ll be right out.”
Penny clamped down on her fluttering stomach and carefully placed the pen back in its holder. Then she rose, smoothed her hair, and touched the coil at the back of her head. It was loose and she took the time to push the pins in further. She hadn’t been able to find her favorite ones this morning. She’d finally scrounged up some spares and managed to get her hair up, but it was nowhere near as tight as she would have liked it, especially today. She walked out of the office.
Alex stood near the front of the long room. Sunlight poured in through the window, bathing him in a golden light. In his dark gray suit, he looked like a businessman, the kind of hardnosed moneygrubber who had refused to loan her money.
Her stomach tightened even more. She noticed little details. His light brown hair still had a soft wave. He’d taken to wearing his sideburns longer. They made him look older, a little wiser.
There were some faint lines at his eyes and she had to wonder what he had seen. His arm hung at his side. Despite his claim that it was useless, it looked normal, healthy. He looked every bit the handsome man he had always been, maybe even more so. He’d lost some of his boyish good looks and turned into a strong, capable man.
“Well?” His gaze followed hers to his arm. “Is it so bad?”
Her gaze jumped up, startled by the concern in his tone. She shook her head. “No. Not bad at all. You look fine.”
“You look wonderful.” The deep, rich tone of his voice sent ripples over her skin.
She stomped down on the spike of pure pleasure that rushed through her. “Thank you.” She refused to let a hint of a smile slip over her lips.
“Brown again. My favorite color on you. Do you wear it often?”
“Always,” she said. “In your honor.”
They stood silent for a moment while he squeezed the brim of his hat. “I’m sorry I’m late. I had some business meetings that ran longer than I anticipated. I could have cancelled them, but I thought it best to keep up appearances.”
“I’m a businesswoman.” She nodded. “I understand.”
The look on his face told her he wanted to say more, but he chose not to. Instead, he squeezed his hat again. Finally, he cleared his throat. “Where’s Lexie?”
“I sent her out to play with Jann. I think we should discuss a few things first.”
His body sagged, but his jaw tightened. “Are you planning to keep her from me, Penny?”
“I wouldn’t do that.” She clenched her fingers, feeling guilty because the idea had crossed her mind. She’d even considered running, just packing up and heading out on the stage. “I won’t do it,” she repeated, more for herself than him. “But I don’t want you to tell her you are her father.”
His hands dropped. “What?”
He might as well have cursed at her the way he said the word. It made her feel horrible.
“Just for the time being,” she rushed to say. “I don’t want to shock her, Alex. I fainted last night. I’ve never fainted in my life. I don’t want to do that to Lexie.”
He nodded. “I understand. It might be better to get to know her a little before I tell her.”
“Especially since we don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He frowned.
“I heard the criticism in your voice last night, Alex. You don’t approve of what I’ve done.”
“No man wants to know he left his wife unprotected, Penny.” His shoulders dropped. “I thought I left you safe, with enough money and friends to rely on.”
“I didn’t want to rely on anyone else. I didn’t want Lexie to feel helpless and looked down on. I lived my life that way, but she doesn’t have to. She deserves better. She’s your daughter.”
“Better?” One eyebrow lifted. “She’s growing up in a saloon.”
“It’s the only thing I knew how to do, Alex. And I thought I would be good at it. When I found out Ben Jeeters wanted to sell his small place in the Washoe silver fields, I jumped at the chance. I bought it with the last of your money.”
“Were you?” he asked his voice low. He studied her across the distance.
“Was I what?”
“Good at it.”
She took a small short breath. “I sold it within the year for enough profit to buy a bigger saloon.”
That surprised him. “So how many saloons have you owned?”
“The Copper Penny is my third, and I’m almost ready to—to move on. I’ve looked at boarding houses in San Francisco.”
“San Francisco?” he repeated.
She looked at her clenched fingers. “I wanted to go farther away, like San Diego. Someplace where no one would connect us with The Copper Penny and our life here. But I have a much better chance of success in San Francisco. The houses in San Diego are cheaper, but they’re turning less profit—” She broke off as she looked up and he shook his head.
“What is it?” Her tone was quiet.
“I’ve never heard you talk like this. I didn’t think you knew anything about business.”
“I didn’t. But I’ve changed. I’m not the girl you left in Los Angeles.”
“That’s for sure.” He slapped his hat against his leg. Everything about him, his tone, his stance, everything said he wasn’t pleased.
Penny’s ire increased by the moment.
She wanted—no, she
needed
to defend herself. She’d opened her mouth to do so when the door swung open. Cold air rushed into the room, carrying the sound of childish laughter with it.
Lexie dashed across the floor, giggling, and trailing a scarf and wet snow behind her. “Mommy!”
****
Alex turned.
His daughter had long copper-colored braids, dangling from beneath her knit cap. Hazel eyes with more green and yellow than brown shone above a smattering of freckles across her nose. Her face was heart-shaped. Even teeth and a bright smile. She was perfect. Just perfect.
“I wanna stay outside longer. But Jann says I have to ask.”
The big blond giant Alex had seen last night stood just behind her.
“All of her clothes are wet, Aunt Penny, and she’s shaking.”
“Lexie.” Penny said, her voice strained. “You interrupted.”
Alex’s daughter turned to him.
“Sorry,” she said, her eyes, wide and sincere.
“This is…Mr. Alex.” Penny’s voice was little more than a whisper.
“Hey, your name’s just like mine. I’m Alexa, but you can call me Lexie.”
Alex wanted to scoop her into his arms and hold her, but he restrained himself by extending his hand for a shake. He was reluctant to let go, but Lexie wiggled her wet glove free.
“You know, you look a lot like your mommy.” He touched a fingertip to her nose. “All except for the very pink nose and cheeks. They look a little cold.”
“That’s because Jann threw a snowball right in my face. I got him back though. I threw one at him, but I put a rock in mine.”
“Lexie!” Penny exclaimed.
“I told him I was sorry, Mommy, and I was. I kissed it. Twice. Jann says I’m stronger than I look. But I won’t never do it again. I hurt him.” She grasped Jann’s hand. “Look,” she pointed to a red mark on his face. “It might make a bruise.” She shook her head sadly.
Alex watched the play of emotions on her young, expressive face. She was exactly as Penny had said: beautiful, smart, and brave. Willful and probably even a little spoiled. She was magnificent. Wonderful. More than Alex had ever dreamed.
And she was worth it all. Whatever sacrifices Penny had made, Lexie was worth it. He was so thankful to Penny for bearing and protecting this marvelous little creature in front of him, he was at a loss for words. He looked up at Penny.
“Thank you.” His voice was hoarse with emotion. “Whatever you did, whatever you sacrificed, it was worth it. Thank you.”
Penny’s lips parted and her eyes filled with tears. Quickly, she turned away.
“What’s the matter, Mommy? Are you crying?”
“I’m fine, Lexie.” She didn’t turn around.
Alex distracted the little imp, giving Penny a moment to collect herself. “So, Miss Lexie.” He cleared his throat. “Tell me, what do you like to do besides throw snowballs with rocks in them?”
“I dunno.” She shrugged. “I like to play dolls.”
“And tag,” Jann interjected. “She loves to play tag here around the bar.”
“I do,” Lexie said with a bob of her head. “And Jann can never catch me ‘cause I’m fast, too.”
“Fast and strong,” Alex said with a smile. “You are quite the little lady.”
Suddenly somber, she shook her head. “Mommy says ladies don’t play tag. I’ll bet they don’t throw rocks either, right, Mommy?”
“That’s right.” Penny said, striving for a stern tone.
Alex hid his smile with his hand. “Well, I’m not one for dolls, but I’d like to play a little tag with you and Jann sometime.”
“Jann tells me boys don’t like to play with dolls all the time,” she said with a heavy sigh. “Will you really play tag with us, though?”
“I’d like that,” he said, looking at Penny. “If it’s all right with your mother.”
“I suppose it would be all right.”
Alex heard the hesitancy in her voice.
“Now, Mommy? Could we play now?”
Penny looked at Alex and he nodded. “Fine. You can play for a little while before lunch. But first you have to change. Your dress and pinafore are soaked.”
“OK. I’ll be right back, Mr. Alex.” She grasped her mother’s hand and they climbed the stairs, Lexie chattering all the way.
“Don’t worry,” Jann whispered when they reached the top of the stairs. “Aunt Penny told me not to tell Lexie you’re her pa. She says you’re waiting for the right time.”
At least Penny conceded there might be a right time, Alex thought.
Jann shook his head. “But I’m not sure I know what that means. If my pa was still alive, the right time to know would be right now.”
Alex studied the young man. In spite of his limited abilities, he was very perceptive. And he loved Lexie. That was obvious. If Alex had not already developed a liking for the young man, he’d approve of him based on that fact alone.
Jann unwrapped a snow-soaked cloth from his fingers.
Alex could see his knuckles were bruised and bloody.
“What happened?”
The young man ducked his head. “I punched something.”
An idea occurred to Alex. “Did those men last night give you trouble?”
“Not all of ‘em. Just Brady Calhoun. He’s just plain mean.”
“Did you punch him?”
“Naw. But he made me so mad, I punched the wall, and this is what happened.”
Whatever Alex might have said was forestalled by a woman in the kitchen door.
She called Jann, then spoke to him in a foreign tongue. She wore an old-fashioned calico dress, what Alex’s mother used to call a prairie dress. Her braid was woven in a tight coronet around the top of her head, and a long white apron was pinned to her dress and tied at her waist. She chattered at Jann without a break. From the sound of it and the hangdog look on Jann’s face, he was the recipient of a scolding.
“Yes, Ma.” He looked at Alex. “Excuse me. I have to set the table for lunch now.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Jann’s mother turned quickly when Alex spoke, and a firm, almost tight look settled over her features.
If the women’s attitudes were any indication of the feelings around here, Alex could understand why Jann always greeted him with such relieved enthusiasm.
The young man needed some male support.
“Jann, would you introduce us?” he asked.
The young man ducked his head. “Sorry. I should have remembered. This is Ma…Inga. Ma, this is Mr. Alex.”
“Ma’am,” Alex said.
She gave him another tight nod, and then turned back to the stove.
Jann proceeded to set the table.
Alex gestured to one of the coffee cups on the table. “Is one of those for me?”
“Ja, of course,” Inga said. “You think ve vould not offer you a cup of coffee?”
“No, ma’am. But my mama always taught me never to take what wasn’t offered.”
Inga shuffled her shoulders. “Vell, your mama, she teaches you right. You sit down.”
Smiling, Jann pulled a chair out.
Alex eased into it.
“Don’t just stand there, Jann. Get him some coffee, or he vill think I don’t teach you good manners.”
Jann took the mug and filled it with hot coffee.
As Alex accepted it, he gestured to Jann’s hand. “Be careful not to crack those open today. Split knuckles have a tendency to bleed an awful lot.”
“They don’t hurt. I don’t even feel ‘em.”
With her back turned, Inga snorted.
Jann scowled at her before looking back at Alex. “Do you get split knuckles?”
Alex glanced at Inga, and then tried not to smile as his sipped his coffee. “Not too many, now, but when I was your age, I got my share. That’s how I know they like to split open. If you’ve got any heavy chores today, I’ll give you a hand so that doesn’t happen.”
The boy and his mother both stopped and turned to stare.
“You’re gonna be here today?” Jann asked.
Alex nodded. “I’ll be here for a long time.”
“You will?” Jann’s face lit with excitement.
“But…but we have no more room,” Inga murmured.
Alex stared at Inga, quite certain she knew who he was and where he intended to stay.
She flushed and turned back to the stove.
“I don’t need help with my chores,” Jann said, oblivious to the exchange between Alex and his mother. “But we sure could use a bartender.”
“Jann!” his mother exclaimed.
“Well, it’s true. Max isn’t doing a good job. I think Aunt Penny’s gonna send him away. That means Aunt Penny or Miss Jewel are gonna have to do it, and you know they don’t like it.”
Inga paused.
“Pourin’ drinks makes Miss Jewel real sad. I don’t wanna see her sad, do you, Ma?”
The woman shook her head. “No, I don’t.”
The way she answered puzzled Alex.
Inga seemed close to tears, thinking of Jewel tending bar.
The more he heard, the more he knew there was something strange going on in The Copper Penny.
Penny might think she didn’t need his help, but he wasn’t so sure. There were too many mysterious glances and unspoken words around here to suit him. He was going to stick as close as he could to discover the problem.