Melissa had not noticed him and about jumped out of her skin. “Charley! Goodness gracious. Don’t sneak up on a person like that!” Relaxing, she smiled and did not ask him to remove his hand. “What are you doing here? Has Mr. Leeds given you time off?”
“I’m on an errand.” Charley stepped back in disappointment. “Tony is leaving for San Francisco today. By noon, he told me. It’s almost that now. I stopped by his place, but his cart was gone, and his landlady said he had given notice and bid her good-bye.”
“Tony is leaving?”
“You don’t have to sound so happy about it. He’s the only real friend I have.” Charley quickly added, “Besides you, I mean. I know the two of you don’t get along, but I’ll miss him something awful.”
From behind them came a chuckle. “Buon giorno. Is the world coming to an end and no one told me, my friend? You look as if you swallowed a scorpion.”
“Tony!” Charley was so happy, he lifted his friend. “I was scared to death you were gone! Where have you been?” A battered valise at Tony’s feet sobered him, and he put Tony down.
“I went to the stable to say so long, as I promised. But Leeds said you were not back from the potato farm. He is mad at you, by the way. He says he could unload ten manure wagons in the time it takes you to unload one.” Tony doffed his cap to Melissa and gave a courtly bow. “So I came to ask your amica if she would relay my regards for me. And here you are.”
“I don’t want you to go.”
Tony smiled. “You know why I must. Already I hear Radtke has men out searching. The police are not after me yet, but they are slow about such things.”
“The police?” Melissa covered her pot with a lid. “What have you done that involves them?”
“Nothing that need concern you.” Tony picked up his valise.
“Wait!” Charley’s idea was bubbling in him like lava in a volcano. “What if you could get your hands on the stake you want? What if all of us could end up with more money than we thought possible? Stick around awhile and hear me out.”
Tony surveyed the street. “Start talking. I must be gone within the hour.”
“Not here. Somewhere we can have peace and quiet.” Charley had never been much good at expressing himself and would need time to convince them.
“There is a tavern a few blocks west. The owner knows me, and I trust him. He will give us a private room at the back. “
Charley looked at Melissa. “This concerns you too. Please say you’ll come with us.”
“I’ve never set foot in a tavern in my life. My mother always said they were no place for a proper lady.”
Tony muttered something that Charley didn’t catch. “Please, Melissa,” he urged. “Just this once. Do it for me. I’ll protect you, if it comes to that. But it’s important, or I wouldn’t ask.”
“My mother would roll over in her grave, but all right. For you, and you alone.” Melissa gave Tony a sharp look. “Would you mind answering my question about the police? I’ve never been arrested, and I don’t intend to start.”
“At the tavern,” Tony said.
Charley was eager to be off. “Hop in the wagon, and I can have us there in no time.”
“What about my potatoes?”
Tony was already heading for the wagon. “For God’s sake, woman. Bring your precious pot if you must. I can not stay out in the open like this, or I am a dead man.”
Melissa gave in, but she took forever taking the pot off the tripod and folding the tripod. “Where do I put my utensils?” she asked, staring at the manure-encrusted bed.
“Under the seat will be fine.” Charley helped her, then boosted her up and climbed on. He was so big, there was barely enough space for the three of them. Melissa was wedged between them, her hands folded in her lap. She wouldn’t look at Tony, and he wouldn’t look at her.
Charley set the team in motion. “This is the greatest day of our lives,” he announced to whet their interest, but neither took the bait.
The tavern was a seamy little building set back from the street. Melissa balked at entering until Charley took her arm and assured her he would be by her side the whole time. A swarthy Italian came up to them and huddled with Tony, then pointed down a dark hallway.
The small room smelled of odors far worse than manure. Melissa scrunched up her nose and started to back out, but Charley ushered her to a bench against the left walclass="underline" the only item of furniture.
Tony stepped to the other wall, dropped his valise, and squatted. “All right. Here we are. Now what is so importante you risk my life?”
Both of them looked at Charley, who suddenly had a pickle in his throat.
“We’re waiting,” Melissa said impatiently.
Charley licked his lips. “Last night Tony and me were talkin’ about how we need a stake. How if we had enough money, we could make something of our lives. Pick ourselves up off the street and become respectable.”
“I’ve had the same dream,” Melissa said. “There’s no future in hawking. You never make enough to get ahead. It’s hand to mouth, with more lean times than flush. But good jobs for women are few and pay pennies. And I refuse to become one of those.”
Charley’s confusion must have shown, because Tony laughed and said, “She will never offer herself for money.” His next comment, spoken almost in a whisper, was odd. “I pity the fool who tries to touch her.”
Melissa came off the bench with her bony fists bunched. “You promised never to bring that up again. So help me, I’ll sock you on the nose if you don’t get over yourself. Just because you’re so good-looking doesn’t mean every female you meet will swoon at your feet.”
“What are you two talkin’ about?” Charley asked.
“It’s between your friend and me.” Flames danced in Melissa’s eyes. “He knows, and that’s all that counts. So what will it be, Mr. Stallion? Will you act your age and drop it?”
Tony was tight-lipped with anger.
“So far I’ve kept this strictly between us. But I won’t if you persist.” Melissa was madder than Charley had ever seen her. “What is it with men? My uncle and you are a lot alike, only he was worse. I’ll hold my peace. But this is the last time, you hear me?”
Charley saw Tony’s expression undergo a puzzling change. It went from angry to serene to an undeniable sorrow. Sadness so deep, Charley felt sad just looking at him. He was glad when Tony shook himself and smiled.
“Consider the matter dropped.” Tony seemed to develop an interest in his shoes. “Now, can we get on with why we are here? Every minute I remain is another minute my life is in danger.”
Melissa unclenched her fists and sat back down. “Suppose you get on with your grand revelation, Charley.”
“Huh?” Charley never had been able to follow two trains of thought at once. Having one derailed so abruptly threw him, and it was a few seconds before he exclaimed, “My brainstorm? Sure enough. Wait until you hear.” He leaned forward with his forearms on his knees. “What would you say if I have a way for each of us to end up with more than two thousand dollars in our pockets?”
“I would say the altitude is getting to you,” Tony cracked. “They say Denver is over a mile high.”
“Go on, Charley,” Melissa coaxed. “I’ve endured this much. I might as well hear the rest.”
Here it was, the moment Charley had been leading up to. He could scarcely contain himself. “Ever heard of the Hoodoos?”
“Do you mean those horrible horse thieves up in Wyoming?” Melissa responded. “The ones who steal horses from Indians and sell them to whites in Nebraska and Kansas or wherever? The newspaper carries stories about them all the time.” She tilted her head. “Why?”