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“May I escort you to one of our rooms? As soon as Constanza i
s finished I will send her to you.”
“No. I’ll wait right here. I think you’re hoping I’ll fall asleep.” He pounded his fist on the small table next to him. “And where the hell is the little bitch with my drink?”
Miss Betsy’s pleasant expression changed as quickly as a whore on a time clock as she leaned over him. “Mr. Smith, I must ask you to lower your voice.”
“Get Constanza now. I’ll pay extra.”
“Once more I must tell you she is busy at the moment and will be with you when she finishes with her customer.”
Louis grabbed Miss Betsy by the arm, throwing her off balance. She landed in a heap on his lap. “Maybe you’ll do instead. Do you like it rough?”
She wrenched her arm from him and waved at someone across the room, then scrambled to her feet. Within seconds two men were on either side of him, hoisting him up under his arms. “Let’s go, sir. Time to leave.”
He twisted, glaring at both men. “Let go of me. Do you know who I am?”
“Right now sir, you are a customer who is being escorted out of the building.”
Miss Betsy moved to stand in front of Louis. “Mr. Smith, you are a good customer. I will ignore what happened today, but you must go quietly now.”
“Like hell!” He swung out and backhanded her, splitting her lip.
She screamed, and one of the men grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. “You’re lucky I don’t break your arm, you bastard.” He and the other man dragged him to the door and shoved him out. He landed on his hands and knees.
“Don’t come back here. Ever. If you do, you won’t walk away on two legs.” The heavier of the two men kicked him in the head, knocking him completely to the ground. They returned to the club and slammed the door, leaving him in the dirt.
Louis lay there a few minutes, panting. Luckily no one entered or left to see him in this humiliating state. He climbed to his feet and patted his cheek with a handkerchief. Miss High and Mighty Betsy would pay for this. No one threw Louis Smith out of a club.
He staggered to his automobile and climbed in, the side of his face throbbing. He groaned as he leaned back and closed his eyes. Within minutes he was fast asleep.
Chapter 15
Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory
“Were you able to get the information Hunter wanted?” Tori slipped her spectacles on and rolled over in bed, propping her head on her hand as she watched Jesse attach his cuff links. Today was a court day for him, and even after all these years she still got a twinge in her lady parts when he dressed in a suit.
The dusting of gray hair at his temples added to his appeal. Sometimes it irked her that men seemed to age better than women. Although not exactly fat, she’d never shed the extra pounds from her fourth child. Jesse assured her over and over that he loved her that way, and he’d never given her any reason to disbelieve him. But when they were out together, he still had women turning their heads to look at him.
Since his office was at home, she was used to seeing him minus a jacket, with his collar off and sleeves rolled up as he went about the business of practicing law. But no matter what he wore—or didn’t wear—he still had the ability to make her heart beat faster.
“Yes. Divorce is possible for abuse, adultery, or abandonment. Since Hunter seemed to be concerned with Emily’s safety, I’m assuming abuse is what he’s looking for.” He adjusted his tie in the mirror and fastened his stick pin. “I just wished his letter hadn’t been so cryptic. It would have made my research a tad easier.”
Tori threw the covers off and stepped up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I’m glad he’s asked for your help. He’s always been so darn independent. Never needing anyone. Despite how overwhelmed I’d been when Henry died and I took over the raising of four adolescents, I wish Hunter had been more open with me. I know he’s a troubled man, but he never gave me any indication what the problem was.”
He turned and kissed her on the nose. “Well, he’s asked for help now so that’s a step in the right direction. Not all men feel comfortable sharing their concerns.”
“You do.”
“Ah, but I am a most unusual and superior man.”
Tori rolled her eyes and followed him out of the bedroom after snatching up her dressing robe and shrugging into it.
Paul was the only one at the table when Tori and Jesse arrived in the dining room. “Dad, you might want to burn the morning newspaper.”
Jesse grabbed the paper from his son’s hand. “What now?” He looked at where Paul pointed and his jaw tightened as he read.
With impending statehood right around the corner, now is the time to think about who we want to represent the fine people of Oklahoma, and who we want to call Governor. Do we really plan to present to the United States of America a governor whose biggest supporter and confidant has a nephew who was released from his Texas Ranger duties under mysterious circumstances and is right now out of state chasing after a married woman? Should not the behavior of the candidate’s close friends and advisors reflect on the man? We the people must consider these facts when the time comes to cast our ballot.
