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Delphine Hoobler and Septima Hare had been talking together on the long dais, but their conversation drew up short and now they stared at their employer. Likewise, Olivia Tillman and her suitor had paused on their way upstairs, and the perennially present Fenn Calais had stopped in his tracks, Ruthie under one arm and Caroline under the other.
“Miss Josephine?” asked the old Texian with the deep pockets and large appetite.
She put one hand on her chest beneath her throat, and did a ladylike show of not gasping for breath. “I beg everyone’s pardon, please,” she said—directing the apology first to the unknown guest and Fenn Calais, then the rest of the ladies. “The curfew, you understand. This gentleman was trying to find his way here, and I only stepped out to lend him a hand. Please, everyone. Carry on, and let’s enjoy the rest of the night. ”
But Ruthie slipped out from under Calais’s arm, quickly replaced by Septima—with Fenn’s blessing, or apathy. She came back to Josephine, who dropped herself onto the hard-padded couch beside Delphine. Still waiting for the coast to clear, she gave the men another half minute to retreat and then gave her orders quietly as the women gathered around and the man who’d accompanied her stood stiffly, nervously by the door. He looked out the window, watching through a slit in the curtains.
“I’m leaving tonight,” Josephine said. “For a day or two—that’s all. My brother’s been hurt, and I need to see him. ”
“Deaderick?” gasped Ruthie. “What happened?”
“He’s been shot, but he’s alive—and he’s going to be all right, I’m pretty confident of that. I have to go take care of him, though. I have to help Fletcher Josty move him safe back to the bayou. From there, Edison will take him up the river to a doctor, if we can’t find one any closer. ”
Olivia’s eyes welled up with tears. This was not an uncommon event, but just this once, Josephine didn’t mind it. The young woman asked, “Is he in town? Why don’t they bring him to town? We’d find a doctor for him here. Maybe Dr. Heuvelman—”
“Miss Tillman,” the madam said with less than her usual measure of patience. Olivia was lovely, kind, and well intentioned, but sometimes painfully slow. “Between the curfew and his face being on wanted posters from Metairie to the Gulf, that’s possibly the worst idea in the world. I’ll go to him and get him moved, and then I’ll be back here by week’s end. ”
Ruthie, on the other hand, was much sharper. “He’s not in town and he’s not in the bayou? Where is he?”
“Somewhere else. This fellow here—I’m sorry, darling, I didn’t catch your name. ”
“Gifford,” he provided. “I’m Gifford Crooks. ” Upon suddenly finding himself the most interesting person in the room, he blushed and kept talking. “I’m with Mr. Pinkerton’s Secret Service—his Saint Louis office, working with the bayou boys as of last week. I’m … new. This is my first job. ”
“I’d have never guessed it,” Josephine said dryly.
“He’s a Pink?” Marylin’s face hardened.
“The Union hires them sometimes. They sent Mr. Crooks here to give me the message. “Marylin, I’m leaving you in charge for now. Swap off with Hazel if you need to take a customer, and Ruthie—I know you stay busy, but you’re third in command. ”
Ruthie said, “No. ”
“Excuse me?”
“No, ma’am. I’m coming with you. ”
“You’re doing no such thing. You’re staying here and working. I know you have a soft spot for Rick, but there’s nothing you can do to help except get in the way. ”
Ruthie turned to Gifford Crooks and asked, “Did you tell her the same thing, when she told you she was coming along?”
“Yes, ma’am. ”
“You leave him out of this!” Josephine commanded. “You’re not coming, and that’s it. ” Ruthie could prove problematic, if they were intercepted and searched.
“I am coming. ” Then, in French—because it was easier for her, “You’ll need me, if something goes wrong. You’ll need someone to come back and tell everyone what’s happened. ”
“Nothing will go wrong. And any fool can run a message home. ”
“Well, I sure as all hell hope nothing goes wrong,” Ruthie blasphemed in her native tongue. She strolled to the hall closet and removed her best navy blue jacket, a jewel-toned silk confection with more pockets than anyone would ever guess. “And I may be a fool of an errand girl, but I will not be left behind. I’ll be back in two shakes. Don’t leave without me, because I do not want to run and catch up. ” With that, she climbed the stairs.
Josephine growled, “Fine! Since Ruthie can’t be trusted to stay put on her own, she’s coming with me. If anyone shows up and asks for her by special request, tell him she’s down with a fever and they can come back Friday night. I’ll offer a discount for the wait. ”
Marylin listened to every word with great concentration, committing the whole of it to memory. “Ma’am?” she asked when Josephine stopped to take a breath. “You will come back, won’t you?”
“Yes. By tomorrow, or the day after at the latest. ”
“But if this is dangerous, and I suppose it must be … what if you don’t?”
Josephine looked around the room, meeting their eyes one by one. In every face, she saw fear. “I will be back, and Rick will be alive. You trust me?”
