An Unconventional Lady Read online

  So many changes happening very quickly. “We’ll talk more this evening.” Annie forced her smile to remain in place, and returned to the counter. The boardinghouse would soon be hers to run as she saw fit. She glanced again at the ceiling. Seeing all the hotel had to offer had just become a priority.

  The next hour raced by. When the last customer left the dining room, Annie sagged against the counter and watched as the tables were quickly cleared and reset for the next crowd. The warmth of the room soothed her. With its wood floor, split log walls and big window at the far end, it blended hominess and luxury seamlessly. She’d have to look at the B and B with new eyes and see what improvements could be made.

  Maybe advertising in eastern cities would draw folks to the Grand Canyon. The trick would be getting them to check in at the boardinghouse rather than El Tovar. Maybe Dallas would have an idea or two.

  She reached under the counter for a rag and wiped the counter, ridding it of crumbs and drips of coffee. The cleaning service kept the wood to such a high sheen, Annie could almost see her reflection.

  Dottie sidled close and sighed, folding her hands under her chin. “Guess who I’m keeping company with this evening?”

  Annie’s heart constricted. “I’m sure I have no idea.”

  “Mr. Baker.”

  * * *

  Dallas slicked back his hair and bent to peer into the small mirror on the wall in his room. He donned his best shirt, tempted to exchange it for one of his everyday ones, but Ma would skin him alive if she found out. He was visiting with a pretty gal, so why wasn’t he more excited?

  No help for it now. He swallowed a sigh and headed down the stairs and outside. Rethinking the plan to sit with Dottie in the parlor, he decided maybe he could entice her to take a stroll instead. The night carried a slight chill, but was nothing a shawl wouldn’t cure. It would be better than an uncomfortable parlor under the watchful eyes of the other girls.

  He marched toward the hotel. Annie approached from the other direction with her head down. “You’ll run into something that way,” he told her.

  “Good evening, Dallas.” She crossed her arms. “I suppose you’re headed to see Dottie.”

  “Yes.” He bent to peer into Annie’s face. “Is something wrong?”

  She shook her head. “Just tired, and running the day’s events through my mind. Mother announced her engagement to Mr. Harris this morning. We’ll be discussing my taking over the boardinghouse when my contract at the hotel expires.”

  “How do you feel about that?” Personally, he didn’t see much of a future in it for her.

  “I’m not sure. There are a lot of things to be considered.” She gave him a shaky smile. “Enjoy your evening.”

  “Thank you. You, too.” He watched her climb the stairs and disappear into the two-story house. She needed a husband to take her away from the failing business. Maybe Sean McMurray would be her salvation.

  Dallas shoved his hands in the pockets of his wool pants. For some reason, the thought of Annie and McMurray together caused his heart to ache. He shook his head. What a fool. Here he was on his way to see one girl while thinking of another.

  He glanced over his shoulder. The lace curtains in the boardinghouse parlor fell back into place. Had Annie been watching him? Dare he hope so? He grinned, his steps lighter as he headed to his destination.

  Stopping at the front desk, he informed the concierge that he was there to see Miss Flannery, then took a seat in one of the leather chairs to wait. Since the girls resided on the third floor, he suspected it would take her a few minutes to appear. Plus girls tended to gussy themselves up more than guys. He grabbed a newspaper and settled back to watch the people file past in ones and twos.

  A young couple, obviously newly married, clung to each other as they headed upstairs. An older couple, the gentleman’s hand on the lady’s back, strolled toward the front porch. Love was in the air, it seemed, although summer was in full bloom rather than spring. He really hoped Dottie would consent to spend their time together outside.

  Twenty minutes later, she glided down the staircase, one hand brushing along the banister. She looked very feminine in a gown of green calico and with her hair up in the new fashion. He couldn’t help but wonder how she’d do riding to the bottom of the canyon on the back of a mule.

  He stood and offered her his arm. “Care for a stroll outside?”

  Her eyes widened. “What about a chaperone?”

  “Then how about we rock on the porch?”

  “I think that would be okay.” Maybe they should worry about a chaperone with the way she pressed against his arm.

  Dallas shifted to loosen her grip, instead placing his hand on the small of her back to guide her outside. He chose two rockers at one end of the porch. “We can count the stars from here.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t imagine counting that high.” She simpered up at him and smoothed her dress before sitting.

  It promised to be an evening of simple conversation. What did one talk about with a stranger? “Tell me about yourself, Dottie. Has your family been in America long?”

  “I was born here. The first in my family. Da is a factory worker back East. Ma takes care of my siblings. There’re eight other than me.”

  “How do you like working for the Harvey Company?”

  “I love it. I came here to find a husband. The prospects are plentiful.” She tilted her head and gave him a soft smile. “What about your family?”

  He told her of his family’s ranch in Texas and watched her eyes widen greedily. With every word about his family’s success, she moved closer, until she practically hung over the arm of her seat. Dallas may have wished for a feminine woman, but he didn’t want one interested only in his family’s money. No, either his future wife married him as he was, a trail guide, or not at all.

  Annie’s face swam to the forefront of his mind. She wouldn’t care. There was a gal who took a person at face value. If only... He sighed. No sense in bringing up a subject he couldn’t change.

  “Have you had many prospects?” he asked Dottie.

  “Just one.” Her breath brushed his cheek. When had she moved her chair so close?

  “Are you chilled? Maybe we should move to the visiting parlor.” Where it was safer.

  “I’m warm enough. You smell nice.”

  He wouldn’t have used his new shaving cream if he’d known how it would attract the beast in a woman.

  Her fingers glided over his face. “Such a smooth shave.”

  He pulled her hands away from his face. “Why don’t you settle back in your rocker and let’s enjoy the evening.”

  “I’m enjoying myself just fine.” She giggled. “You’re a bit nervous. Most men would meet me more than halfway. Are you shy?”

  “Not at all.” The problem was her wayward behavior. Did she act this way with all men or just him?

  “If not, then how about a kiss?”

  Chapter 12

  Annie stood at the bottom of the staircase, one foot on the first step, her left hand on the railing. The busy day had allowed no time for her to ask permission. Most likely it wouldn’t matter, since she was employed by the Harvey Company. Then why did her heart beat in her throat and her palms sweat?

  With a glance around, and a smile at the concierge, she climbed, doing her best to act as if she belonged there. She stopped at the second floor, where guests stayed. The hall stretched in front of her like a gauntlet. Taking a deep breath, she strolled forward, hoping to find an open door she could peek in.

  A maid was cleaning a room halfway down the hall. Annie stood in the doorway, taking in the gold floral wallpaper, and sleigh bed with blankets that complemented it. A bureau stood against one wall with a clear trifold mirror on top. A rocking chair was nestled under a window with white, sheer curtains. No
t too different from the boardinghouse, except that the furnishings were new and the electric lights left no corner in shadow.

  “May I help you, miss?” The maid glanced up from making the bed.

  Annie shook her head and backed away. Turning, she located stairs leading to the third floor. This was where the other girls slept, although the hall sported too many rooms for just them. She found the private dormitory rooms at the end of the hall.

  The first door she came to led to a small parlor with tasteful, comfortable furniture that would allow six people to sit and converse in front of a fire. Two girls, out of uniform, were enjoying their time off, one with a book, the other with knitting. Annie smiled and continued on her way. The staff bedrooms looked very similar to the guest rooms. So far, the fancy hotel didn’t have a lot more to offer than her mother did.

  Except for running hot and cold water and the electric lights. Annie sighed. Not to mention the extra amenities such as barbershop, solarium, rooftop garden, billiard room, and art and music rooms. It was possible they could incorporate some of them, though.

  She pressed her back against the wall and lightly banged her head. All those things cost money. More money than she or Mother had. Maybe if she put some really deep thought into it, she could come up with something unique.

  Sure, the baking helped. A lot, actually. Could it be possible a boardinghouse was no longer the route they should take to earning a living? Yes, they had rooms to spare, but those could be for a special few. The type of folks who actually wanted the simpler life. Otherwise, they could focus on baking. They could sell not only to the restaurant, but to the public as well. Maybe sell outdoor equipment in addition to scheduling tours of the canyon.

  She grinned and pushed away from the wall. With no fear of hard work and an intelligent, creative mind, she’d make a success of Rollins’s Bakery and Outdoor Equipment. Now, to get Mother to—

  “What are you doing up here?” Dottie glared, hands on her hips. “I’m telling Miss Cartwright. If you don’t live here, you don’t belong here.”

  “I told Miss Cartwright.” She just didn’t tell Mr. Lawrence.

  Dottie narrowed her eyes. “Why are you so flushed?” She patted her hair. “I’m the one who’s been thoroughly kissed. Why, Mr. Baker took my breath away.”

  Annie wanted to stomp on the other girl’s toes. A lady did not kiss and tell. She shoved aside the fact that Dottie had kissed Annie’s best friend. She had no intentions of losing Dallas’s friendship because he fell for an Irish imp with loose morals. Oh, what a mess she’d made of things. Why had she encouraged the girl to go ahead with her pursuit of Dallas?

  “Spreading around the fact you were kissing without a chaperone isn’t very becoming behavior.” Annie straightened. “You could lose your job.”

  “Oh, posh.” Dottie sashayed down the hall and stopped in front of a door at the end. She turned a simpering smile Annie’s way. “Don’t be jealous. That isn’t becoming, either.”

  Oh! Annie stomped her foot and rushed down the stairs. Tomorrow, she’d request to be moved from the counter to a table. She didn’t want to work beside Dottie for another day. Annie might not be ready to get married, but she didn’t want to listen to the other girl’s bragging for a minute.

  She stormed past the front desk, not slowing until she’d left the hotel. She shouldn’t let the other girl bother her. Annie and Dallas could remain friends while he courted someone, right? Unless the other girl forbade it, and Dottie was the type to do so. Annie sighed and slowed her pace even more. For the first time in her life, she didn’t know what she wanted. Independence or a husband? A husband other than Dallas, or Dallas?

  Silly girl. Dallas had never shown any indication that he thought of her romantically at all. In fact, other than trying to be more feminine, Annie hadn’t shown interest in him, either. The one thing she did know was that she wanted to experience life a bit and not be looked at as if spinsterhood was her definite future.

  She bent and picked up a rock, chucking it at a tree. A yelp let her know it wasn’t a tree. Gracious! She lifted her skirts and dashed toward the fallen man. Lord, forgive me for my temper.

  Look what she’d done. Injured another because of a silly tantrum. She fell to her knees and peered into the man’s face. “Dallas?”

  * * *

  “Why’d you hit me?” He sat up, a hand to his forehead. “Did I make you mad about something?”

  “I’m so sorry. Let me see.” She pulled his hand away. “It’s too dark. Come into the house and let me tend to you. Can you walk?”

  “Of course I can. You hit me in the head, you didn’t shoot me in the foot.” He wiped his wet hand on his pants, hoping Mrs. Rollins knew how to wash blood out of wool. “So, are you going to tell me why you were throwing rocks?” He opened the front door and stepped into the foyer.

  “Someone made me angry. I thought you were a tree.”

  “What happened?” Mrs. Rollins rushed toward them. “Hurry. Into the kitchen. You’re bleeding all over my floor.”

  “I ran into a rock.” Dallas winked at Annie. No sense in her getting into trouble with her ma. The harm was already done.

  “Ran into a—” She shook her head. “Never mind. Annette, fetch me some hot water and the medical kit. Sit right here, Mr. Baker.” She pulled out a kitchen chair.

  He lowered himself onto it and took the towel Annie handed him. Since she’d called her daughter by the long version of her name, there’d be more questions. Guaranteed.

  “I don’t think you’ll need stitches, but you might want the doctor to look at it in the morning to be sure.” Mrs. Rollins dabbed at his wound.

  He hissed. Good thing he had no tours for a few days. He was bound to have a headache.

  “But it will leave a colorful bruise.” She wrapped a bandage around his head. “Annette, fetch the poor man some coffee while he tells me what really happened. Considering my daughter is fighting back tears—” Mrs. Rollins dropped the bloody rag into a basin of water “—I’d say she’s had a hand in your injury.”

  “She has a strong arm.” Dallas leaned his head against the back of the chair and tried to concentrate on the conversation rather than the throbbing above his left eye.

  “It was an accident.” Annie sniffed. “I was angry at one of the other girls and threw a rock at what I thought was a tree.”

  “Of course you did.” Mrs. Rollins stood and picked up the basin. “What could possibly make you mad enough to throw rocks?” When Annie didn’t answer, she asked the question again.

  Annie expelled a hard breath and stabbed Dallas with her glare. “She’s going around bragging to everyone about how she managed to get alone with Dallas without proper chaperonage, and how his kisses left her breathless.”

  Mrs. Rollins stared at her daughter, her mouth slightly open. She bit her bottom lip and went out the back door to dump the water.

  Dallas couldn’t tear his gaze away from Annie’s. Dottie was bragging? It made Annie mad enough to throw rocks? What had he gotten himself into? If he’d known Dottie was prone to flapping her lips, he never would’ve spent time in her company. It was his fault, after all. He was the one who’d wanted to enjoy the evening air instead of a stuffy parlor. What must Annie think of him?

  Mrs. Rollins came back into the room, her mouth set in a firm line. “I don’t usually pry into other people’s affairs, Mr. Baker, but unseemly behavior by my employees could reflect badly on my business.”

  “Ma’am.” Dallas stood on wobbly legs. “I can assure you it is not how Miss Flannery has made it seem. We were in plain view of several guests on the front porch of the El Tovar.” He thought it wise to leave out the part about sitting in the shadows. He’d paid the price for that decision by fighting off Dottie’s advances.

  Annie huffed and left to pour the coffee. Instead of filli
ng three mugs, as she would usually do, she brought only one. She plopped it down on the table in front of him, then with a swish of her black dress left him alone with her mother.

  Mrs. Rollins sighed. “Have a good evening, Mr. Baker. Please take care of your head and try not to sleep for at least an hour to make sure you don’t have a concussion.” She followed her daughter, leaving Dallas alone.

  Feeling like a cad, he lowered himself back into the chair and stared at the dark liquid in his cup, then pushed it away. He didn’t want coffee. He wanted sleep, and he’d managed to alienate the two women who could care for him while he stayed awake for an hour.

  A few minutes later he wrapped his fingers around his cup, pushed himself to his feet and headed for the front porch. He sat on a rocker, choosing to keep it still so as to not jar his head. He stared at the millions of stars overhead. How could he fix this particular mess?

  Dottie obviously thought she had some ownership over him, and that bothered Annie. He sipped his coffee, not ashamed to admit to himself that he rather liked the idea Annie might be jealous.

  He needed to pay more attention to how she acted around him. He’d always thought she looked at him as the means to an end. Someone who would take her down into the canyon. Was it possible she viewed him as something more? Then why encourage him to spend time with Dottie? Because that’s exactly what she’d done. Women sure were confusing creatures.

  What would Pa do in this situation? Most likely, he’d never let himself get between two sparring women in the first place. Dallas shook his head. He didn’t care for Dottie other than appreciating her pretty face, and he enjoyed Annie’s company. A lot. If only she measured up to what he wanted in a wife, and stopped wearing those stupid skirts.

  There was the answer to his questions. He’d write his ma a letter. She was full of Godly wisdom and could give him insight into a woman’s mind.