Page 20 of A Star in the West

“I . . . I don’t understand.”

Footsteps on the stairs had all three of the room’s occupants holding their breath. Frank turned to face whoever approached, ready to battle but praying it wouldn’t be necessary. When he saw Muir’s face emerge from the stairwell, he released his breath and smiled in relief.

He waved Muir forward, then turned back to the women. “This is my friend Randolph Muir. He’s the one who found your son in the manger and the one who would like to help you be a mother to him.”

When Muir came alongside him, Frank made the introductions. “This is Jade. The babe’s mother.”

“Gladys,” she corrected. “My real name is Gladys. Jade’s my working name.”

Muir stepped forward and sketched a small bow. “Miss Gladys. I’d like to tell you a story, if I may. And ask you a few . . . personal questions.”

She gave him an odd look but nodded. “All right.”

Muir seated himself on the cot across from hers and began telling the tale of his daughter.

Pearl rose and gave the two a bit of privacy, moving to Frank’s side. “You fellas really gonna get her out of here?”

“If she’s willing.” Frank considered the woman beside him. “We could get you out as well. Give you a fresh start in a new place. Ruby too.” He frowned and looked around. “Where is Ruby?”

Pearl smiled. “Down in one of the sporting rooms, jumping on the bed.” She chuckled softly when Frank’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “In case anyone should walk down the hall to check on us.” Pearl winked. “She’s making sure they hear what they need to hear. And probably having the time of her life.” Her smile faded. “Genuine pleasure is rare in this line of work.”

“You don’t have to stay here. Either of you. We can get you out.”

Pearl swiveled her head in the direction of the single window at the end of the room, a touch of wistfulness softening her features before she forced it away with a shake of her head.

“You’re sweet to offer, Professor, but I’m stayin’. Ruby swears she has a cowboy savin’ up his pay so he can come back and marry her. I tried telling her those kind of promises are empty, but she insists her cowboy is different. That he’s comin’ for her. She won’t leave. And I can’t go knowin’ she’s here. Someone’s got to look out for the young’uns. Heaven knows Opal ain’t gonna do it. All that woman cares about is linin’ her pockets.” She manufactured a smile and patted Frank’s chest. “Don’t you worry ’bout savin’ me, Professor. I got a little nest egg set aside. When the time is right, I’ll save myself.”

“I’m sure you will.” He prayed that day would come soon. The longer she stayed in this life, the harder it would be to leave.

Before he could say anything more, Muir rose to his feet and turned to face Frank. “Gladys has agreed to return to Cambridge with us.”

Pearl hurried to Gladys’s side and wrapped an arm around the girl’s shoulders. “Are you sure, honey?” She lowered her voice. “There’s no guarantee you ain’t jumpin’ from the fryin’ pan into the fire.”

“I know. But if it means keepin’ Curtis, I gotta take the chance. He’s the only family I got in this world, Pearl. Givin’ him up tonight nearly broke me.” Gladys sat a little straighter and patted her friend’s arm. “Besides, you have the best intuition I’ve ever seen when it comes to men. You wouldn’t have brought these two up here if you didn’t believe them to be honorable. If you trust them, so do I.”

“Well, I guess all we have to do now is figure out a way to get you off the property without Opal catching you.”

“Actually,” Frank said, stepping forward, “I have an idea about that. Ever hear the story about Rahab and the Israelite spies?”

Gladys’s face scrunched. “Who’s Rahab?”

“A harlot, just like us,” Pearl said, surprising Frank once again. She glanced his way and gave him a saucy wink, clearly enjoying having the upper hand. “She hid a pair of spies in her room, then let them down out of her window to help them escape. I’m thinkin’ the professor here is plannin’ on switchin’ things up and having the spies lower the woman through the window. Am I right, Professor?”

Frank grinned. “That you are, Miss Pearl.”

“Well then, I guess we better get busy tying the bedsheets together.”

Chapter 11

“They’re sweet when they’re sleeping, aren’t they?” Norman’s wife, Alma, smiled at Stella over her knitting as her needles clicked quietly in the small parlor.

Alma had welcomed the baby boy into her home without batting an eye. She’d shown Stella how to change and swaddle him, and had just finished feeding him a few minutes ago, which had soothed the little lad back to sleep.

All the wrinkles smoothed from his pink face as he relaxed in Stella’s arms. His bow-shaped mouth hung slightly open as his chest rose and fell in a gentle rhythm.

“I feel like I could just sit here and hold him for hours.”

Alma chuckled softly. “I was like that with my first, too. Didn’t want to put her down. Just wanted to hold her and nuzzle those chubby cheeks. With a toddler in the mix this time, I’m too busy to do much baby nuzzling, but I treasure the quiet moments with Millie during nursing.” Her knitting paused as she looked up and met Stella’s gaze. “Except the predawn feedings. Can’t say I treasure those.”