Page 26 of The Promise
"You just said the news was all over town." Patrick shot a disgusted look at the old sot.
"Ah, but Corabeth was certain there was truth to the talk."
"Had she been with my father?" Duncan had taken to spending time at the cribs after his mother disappeared, but Patrick had no idea if he favored a particular girl.
"No, but she had her information straight from Loralee."
"Loralee?"
"Aye, she and your father were friends, don't ya know." Arless winked and poked Patrick in the ribs. "Seems Duncan was with her the night he died. God rest his soul." He crossed himself, but in his inebriated state, he only managed three of the four stations.
"And this Loralee, she works out of a crib?" Patrick felt his spirits rise. If the woman had been with his father, then maybe she'd be able to shed some light on what really happened.
"Aye, that she does, boy. And I'll be bettin' she knows more than a bit about this claim o' Duncan's."
Pete stroked his moustache, thoughtfully. "You been flappin' your gums to anyone else about this, Arless?"
He screwed up his face, concentrating on Pete's question. "Can't say that I did or didn't. I'm afraid my mind ain't what it used to be. The liquor helps me forget about Lena, but unfortunately it ain't particular. So I'm afraid I don't remember much o' anything at all."
He looked so remorseful that Patrick patted him on the shoulder. "Never mind, Arless. Have the rest of the bottle on us."
"Much obliged, boys." He tipped his hat and turned to the bottle, a look of befuddled joy coloring his expression.
Patrick drained the rest of his whiskey, slamming the empty glass down on the bar. "I need to find this girl, Pete."
"I'd say you do. Want me to come along?"
"No, this is something I'd like to handle on my own. I'll meet you back at Clune."
Pete nodded and Patrick turned to go. "Patrick?"
He looked back over his shoulder. Pete was standing where he left him, his eyes narrowed with concern.
"Be careful, son. I don't like the feel of this whole thing. There's more here than we're understanding." He paused and studied the toes of his boots, then looked up again to meet Patrick's gaze. "I don't want to lose you, too."
It was probably the longest speech Pete had ever made. Patrick swallowed over the lump in his throat. "I'll be careful. I promise."
Loralee leanedback against the closed door of her room, grateful to finally be alone. She'd had a busy morning. Not that she wasn't grateful for the money. She needed all she could get to send to Mary.
Of course, her sister, Faye, could more than afford to take care of the child, but Loralee wanted her daughter to know that her mother loved her. It had taken every ounce of self control she'd had to send her away like that, but the cribs were no place for a child, especially one as lovely as Mary. She patted the locket between her breasts. Her baby was safe.
Her sister had done well for herself. A fine, fancy parsonage in Richmond and a handsome young husband to boot. At least when Corabeth had read her the letters it had sounded that way.
Corabeth.
Loralee frowned. She'd not seen hide nor hair of her friend all day. Of course it had been a rather hectic morning. First the wilddash to get Jack safely to Ginny's and then three rambunctious cowboys in town for a good time. She ran a tired hand through her hair. It was a wonder she could function at all.
The door rattled as someone pounded on it. Loralee sighed, wishing she'd barred it closed.
She drew in a sharp breath and dropped down onto the end of the bed, her heart fluttering in her throat, a sudden thought pushing itself front and center in her brain, making her forget all about the customer at the door. She stared in fascination at the bar hanging beside the door.
When it was in place, the door was locked.From the inside.Otherwise the door was open. There was no other way to lock it. None at all.
All the cribs had bars like hers.Including Corabeth's. And Corabeth's door was locked. Which meant that she couldn't be away. Loralee shivered and rubbed her arms, suddenly certain that something was wrong with her friend.
The pounding on the door grew more insistent. Frustration welled inside her. She didn't have time for a randy miner right now. "Go away, I'm not open for business."
Her thoughts returned to Corabeth, her heart pounding against her ribs as fear began to blossom. She struggled to get control of herself. Corabeth was probably just taking a day off. Getting some much needed sleep. Her mind accepted the information, but her heart refused to go back to its mundane beating.
