Page 77 of The Enchanted Land

“Come on, men. Don’t you see the joke? Can’t you see ol’ Theron’s face when that big dumb cowboy makes an offer for his little jewel?”

“Charley, Miss Colter is a lady, and you know about Nicole’s sales. Morgan Colter didn’t entertain in no whorehouse and you know it. I don’t care about the cowboy, but if Morgan or Theron heard, they could do us damage.”

“And besides, I like the little gal. She’s a nice lady, and she keeps to herself. And nobody’s even seen the inside of her room, even though everybody’s tried.”

“Oh, hell! Can’t a man have a little joke? I was only funnin’ the man.” He finished his beer. “Let’s get out of here. Charlotte’s got Morgan and her pretty boy comin’ to tea and she wants me there.” He looked at the other two reproachfully. “A man can dream, can’t he?”

Seth’s senses were reeling. She was here! She was in San Francisco. A real classy cathouse, the man had said. Did she leave Montoya, or did he get tired of her?

Without conscious thought, he followed the man’s directions to Theron’s house. He stood staring at it for a long time before he saw the door open.

“Theron, shouldn’t we take some of the upholstery samples? Charlotte may want to change her mind about that awful brocade.”

“Morgan, will you never learn? That woman would never change her mind, not unless you held a gun on her. We could try that, couldn’t we? ‘Lady, either you pick what we say, or you die,’” he mocked. “How’s that?”

“Oh, Theron, sometimes I wish we could. What is it with these people and purple?” She was smiling and turned in Seth’s direction an instant before he disappeared around a building.

Her knees gave way and she grabbed Theron’s arm for support.

“Morgan, what is it? Jarvis, go to the Farrells’ and tell them Morgan is ill, that we can’t make it.” Theron picked Morgan up and carried her upstairs to her room.

Seth watched from the street, his rage mounting by the second. He turned and left the area.

“Seth. It was Seth, Theron. I saw Seth.”

“But Morgan, Seth is dead. It must have been someone who looked like him.”

“Theron!” Her eyes blazed. “ItwasSeth. He’s alive. I have to find him.” She started up from the bed.

“Not now you don’t. I don’t like your color. Jeannette, get Morgan some tea.” He looked at Jeannette knowingly and she nodded.

“Theron, you have to understand. There is a reason that I have to find him now, without delay. He may hate me. He may think I left him for another man. He was told I did.”

“How could he believe that? Morgan, you don’t realize how much you talk about that man. I’d really like to meet him, because I’m sure he has a golden halo and his feet are supported by little clouds. If something is good … anything—art, food, wallpaper paste—you compare it to Seth. If it’s bad, then it’s not like Seth.”

“Theron, please!” She looked at him in desperation.

“Here’s your tea.” Again, he and Jeannette exchanged looks. “Drink this and then we’ll talk about finding your Seth.”

Morgan sipped at the tea and then, at Theron’s urging, drained her cup.

“Now, let’s go.” She swung her legs off the bed, then put her hand to her forehead.

“Theron! You put something in the tea. How am I going to find Seth? How am I… He hates me…”

“She’s asleep. Good.”

“Mr. Shaw, what’s wrong with her? I’ve never seen her so upset. Do you think she really saw her husband?”

“I don’t know, but I plan to make a few inquiries while she sleeps. A man with sandals and a white robe should be easy enough to find, don’t you think?”

“Sandals?” Jeannette looked puzzled and then smiled. “Mr. Shaw! You shouldn’t say things like that.”

“If she wakes up, try to keep her calm. I’ll be back soon.”

Theron spent the afternoon and part of the evening trying to find Seth. He knew very little about him except that he was large. The bartender at one saloon seemed to remember a man like that, but he wasn’t sure. Two wagon trains had arrived in San Francisco that day and he’d been pretty busy. It was well into the night when Theron returned home.

Morgan met him at the door, but she knew from his face that he’d been unsuccessful. She sank to her knees, dissolving into tears. “Seth. Seth.” Her cries were close to hysteria.

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