Restless Hearts (21 page)

Sarah waved the comment away. “I’ll be going out tonight, and when I come back, I expect to have Lily with me.”

“But how?” Addie shook her head. “He won’t sell her to you.”

Sarah was a bundle of nerves, but she didn’t let it show. “Perhaps not, but if I challenge him to a game of poker, he won’t be able to resist.”

“But...” Addie scrambled to find the right words. “You don’t know how to play poker. What if you lose?”

Sarah tossed her head. “First of all, I do know how to play poker, and secondly, if I lose, it’s only money. We’ll make more.” She grinned. “But I don’t intend to lose.”

“She’s gone where? What does she think she’s doing?” Devon was beside himself.

“I already told you. She said she’s going to play poker against Hiram.”  Addie grabbed him by the arm to stop his pacing. “Does she really know how to play poker?”

Devon raked his fingers through his hair. “She does. In my teenage years, I was sick for almost an entire year.” He smiled at the memory. “Sarah spent hours with me every day, mostly playing poker. She’s quite good at it, actually.”

“Why am I not surprised? I haven’t seen her fail yet.” She took a close look at Devon. “Have you eaten anything yet?”

He frowned. “Come to think of it, no. But I need to get over to the Parker House.”

“You’ll do no such thing.”

Anger flared in Devon’s eyes, but Addie continued. “At least not for a while. Give her a chance to get settled in, to get the feel of the game. You’re bound to distract her.” She dished out a plate of stew. “Here, eat.”

* * *

Sarah stepped out of the hired buggy in front of the impressive edifice and looked up at the row of distinctive dormer windows. Undaunted by the pressure of entering the famed gambling establishment, she’d dressed in her most attractive outfit. Knowing that she looked her best, she smiled graciously as the door opened.

Several men turned her way.

“Good evening, gentlemen. I’ll be playing upstairs tonight.”

Suggestive smirks followed her as she walked up the stairs, but she held her head high. A man met her at the top of the stairs and she tried not to show her surprise. His jacket was of the finest broadcloth, and he exuded an air of respectability. “The poker room, please,” she said, meeting his gaze steadily.

Her chin lifted imperceptibly as she surveyed the room; she was reminded of the gambling salon on the river boat, and for a moment she wondered how Jamie would react if he knew what she was doing.

She spotted Hiram immediately and it took all of her self-control not to gasp when she saw Lily. He had her dressed in a scarlet cheongsam, split up the side to mid-thigh. Sarah could not allow herself to make eye contact, in case she faltered.

“Good evening gentlemen.” Every male eye in the room had turned to assess her when she walked in. “Who among you is the best poker player?”

Several of the men stifled a laugh, but many coughed into their hands, unwilling to be caught laughing.

“Surely you must know who’s the best.” She walked slowly from table to table, surveying the amount of gold on each one. Stopping at Hiram’s table, she stared pointedly at his winnings. “It looks as though I’ve found out for myself.”

Sitting slightly behind his left shoulder, Lily stirred, but Sarah ignored her. She rested a hand on an empty chair and smiled sweetly at the other men. “Do you mind, gentlemen?” She tossed down her pouch, which landed with a thud that was heavy enough to attract attention. “I have a mind to play some poker.”

“What are you doing here, bitch?” Hiram’s low growl could be heard in every corner. A low murmur of discontent arose from around the room at his words. Sarah recognized many of the men from her eating establishment, and she tipped her head slightly, acknowledging their support.

“Why Hiram,” she said sweetly, silently thanking Addie for the lesson in southern-speak. “I’m here to beat you at poker.” Her hand lingered on the chair. “Or are you afraid to accept the challenge?”

The men at the table tensed as Hiram’s hand drifted toward the revolver that lay beside his pile of gold. “Sit,” he said, and she complied, a serene smile fixed firmly in place.

“Five Card Draw,” the dealer intoned, and Sarah nodded. She played the first few hands like a rank amateur, and the men at the table relaxed. She hadn’t intended to play poorly, but her heart was beating so rapidly she thought she might faint.

After about an hour, her play began to improve. As she gained confidence, several of the men dropped out, and by some unspoken agreement, their chairs remained empty. At one point she looked up and saw Devon sitting in the shadows, staring intently at her. She forced herself not to acknowledge him, but having him there gave her confidence.

Several hours later, the last of the players at Sarah’s table had called it a night. Smoke hung thickly over the table, burning her eyes, but she refused to blink as Hiram lit yet another cigar.

“Just the two of us,” he said, eyeing her stack of gold, which was now a little less than his. “Time to get serious.”

“Let’s do that,” she said, aware that most of the others in the room had stopped playing and were watching Hiram’s table with ill-disguised interest. She glanced around, looking for Devon, and her heart stopped. Jamie was leaning casually against the far wall, and as she watched, he lit a cigarillo. His lazy smile made her breath catch in her throat and he nodded imperceptibly, his eyes holding hers. Confidence oozed from him, and every negative thought she’d harbored over the past twenty four hours drifted away on a stream of cigar smoke.

Sarah’s luck deserted her shortly after she spotted Jamie. The smoke in the room was almost unbearable, and she wanted to rub her eyes in the worst way, but she refused to show weakness. She looked to Jamie for support, but he had moved. He was now standing beside a wall sconce, and as she watched, he fidgeted with the cigarillo in his mouth. What was he doing? Rolling the cigarillo back and forth in his mouth, he seemed to be trying to attract her attention. What was he playing at? More than ever she needed to concentrate, or she would be in real danger of losing all her money, and more importantly, Lily.

And then she remembered Jamie’s story of how he’d lost at poker by signalling his excitement every time he had a good hand. What had she been thinking? Any hands she’d won up until now had been luck of the draw. It was time to start observing her opponent more closely.

She covertly studied Hiram for several hands and even though he was still enjoying some remarkable luck, she picked up no hints. Her stack was dwindling and she was beginning to worry when she glanced at Lily. As she had throughout the game, she sat perfectly still, but Sarah noticed her blinking... twice, then twice more. She was sitting directly in line with Hiram’s smoke but her blinking was anything but random.

The dealer spun out the cards. Hiram picked up his hand and blinked twice. Sarah folded, and he muttered under his breath as he claimed the small pot. Several more hands like this and she knew she had him. Slowly, she began to increase her bets when he didn’t blink, and her stack grew. It was all she could do to contain her excitement when she bluffed him on the last hand and the dealer pushed the remainder of Hiram’s gold across the table.

He stood up angrily.

“What’s your hurry?” she asked, a bold challenge in her voice.

“What do you want, woman?” He pointed to his mouth. “The gold out of my teeth?”

“No, thank you.” She tilted her head toward Lily. “But I’ll play you one hand for her.” She shoved the pile of gold to the center of the table, removed her mother’s ring, and placed it on top. “Who knows?” she taunted. “Your luck just might change.”

He faltered for a moment and then sat down.

“I’ll want that bill of sale,” she said coolly. “Made over to me.”

He growled and looked at the dealer. “Deal.”

“Five card draw. Two draws of two.” The dealer flipped the cards.

Hiram picked up his cards and studied them, unblinking. Sarah looked down at two pair, eights and tens.

“Two cards.” Hiram put down his cigar; it had gone out over an hour ago.

Sarah discarded. “One card.” She looked down at a full house, tens over eights.

The dealer looked at Hiram. “Sir?”

“Two cards.” He looked down and glared across the table, still unblinking.

Sarah tabled her hand.

Hiram slammed his cards on the table. “Take her,” he shouted, “but don’t let me see you in here again.”

Sarah smiled. “That would be my pleasure. Now if you would just sign the bill of sale, indicating that she’s free?” The room erupted into applause and she turned to face the men. “Thank you gentlemen. It’s been a pleasure.”

Hiram scribbled his signature, then tossed the piece of paper across the table. Sarah picked it up, put it in her bag and smiled at Lily. “Let’s go home.”

* * *

Lily trembled as Sarah led her down the stairs and out the front door of the hotel. She climbed awkwardly but eagerly into the buggy Jamie had waiting, and clung to Sarah’s arm all the way back.

“Am I really free?” she’d asked, her voice thick with emotion.

“Yes.” Sarah squeezed her hand. “You are free. I’ll give you the paper.”

“Thank you.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “I don’t know what else to say.”

“You’ve said it all.” She glanced over at Jamie. “It’s time to look forward.”

Addie, Anna and Angus surrounded Lily as she stepped into the house. Somehow Devon had made it back before Sarah and Jamie, and he stood in the background, smiling as Lily was greeted by her friends. When Lily slipped away to change, he joined the group.

“You should have seen Sarah,” he said, reliving the scene for Addie, Anna and Angus. “She shoved that pile of gold into the center of the table with all the confidence in the world.” He paused and looked at her. “I was proud of you, Sarah, I really was.”

“Thank you Devon.” She gestured toward Lily, who had changed into her tunic and loose pants. “But it was Lily who showed me what to look for.”

Lily remained silent. Her gaze went past Sarah, rested on Jamie for a moment, then returned to Sarah with a faint smile and a nod of her head.

Sarah turned and found him leaning against the wall, waiting patiently. How could she have doubted this man who made her heart leap into her throat every time she looked at him? He pushed off from the wall and extended his hand. “Come,” he said, leading her toward the door. He looked back at their friends. “Please excuse us. What I have to say to Sarah is private.”

She could barely make out his face in the flickering light from the dining room window, but it was enough.

“Sarah,” he said, cupping her face in his hands. “Believe me when I say Lettie means nothing to me. I had no idea she was going to show up. I’ve sent her away.”

“I know,” she said, gazing up into his eyes.

“You do?” He pulled back. “How could you know that?”

Tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t care. “When I saw you tonight... at the poker game... I knew.” She touched his face with her fingertips. “I should have stayed at your ranch and demanded an explanation, but when I saw you brush back her hair, and then kiss her...” She tried to scowl at him. “I was afraid that I was too late to let you know how I feel.”

“And how is that?” He gathered her into his arms, lowered his head and gave her a soul-searing kiss.

“I can’t tell you if you keep kissing me.” She grinned up at him.

“Shall I stop?”

“Never.” She raised her lips for another kiss and sighed when he finally released her. “I love you Jamie.” She made a broad gesture that included the eating tent and the house. “This has been a wonderful challenge, but I don’t think I need to prove myself anymore. I went to Sacramento to tell you that.” She smiled up at him in the darkness. “Plus the part about loving you.”

“I love you too, Sarah. I’d planned to come back to San Francisco if you didn’t show up in a day or two.”

“Oh, and what were you going to say?”

He dropped to one knee. “Sarah Howard, will you marry me?”

She pulled him to his feet. “I can’t think of anything I’d like better than to be your wife.”

Jamie patted his pockets as though a ring might magically appear. “I don’t have a ring, but I’ll get one.”

Sarah dug in the pocket of her dress and pulled out her mother’s ring. “Let’s use this one for now.”

He smiled and slipped it on her finger. “Somehow, I think your mother would approve.”

Sarah and Jamie were married on a warm, lazy day in early summer. Golden sunlight streamed through the trees, illuminating a small trio of Mexicans strumming softly on their guitars as the guests arrived for the ceremony. Lucy, Charlie and Addie had arrived yesterday. Charlie dragged Jamie off for a tour of the ranch and the two men had talked development potential long into the night.

Lucy and Addie willingly took direction from Teresa as they prepared the wedding feast, leaving Sarah with plenty of time to greet the other guests.

Caroline and Lizzie were soon drawn into conversation with the other women, and their husbands drifted out to the patio to join Jamie and Charlie.

Recently married, Anna and Angus took Missy outside to see Uncle Jamie, and to visit the new foal in the stable.

Lily greeted Sarah with a fierce hug, and when she met Devon’s gaze over Sarah’s shoulder, she didn’t look away.

Sarah pulled Lily toward the other women. “My friends,” she said simply. “My new family. Thank you for being here.”

“Oh, pish.” Lucy dabbed at the corner of her eye. “I’m just sorry your mother couldn’t be here, but I’ll be writing to tell her all about it.”

“I am too,” said Sarah. “But it was just too far. Never mind, she’s here in spirit.”

Sarah turned to Addie. “Now that you own the eating place, do you plan to make any changes?”

Addie laughed. “Why tamper with success?” She looked at the other women gathered around the work surface. “I feel blessed to know every one of you.” She blinked back tears and looked eagerly outside, where a buggy was pulling up in the courtyard. “And here’s your final surprise,” she said, removing her apron and fussing with her hair.

“Surprise?” Sarah went to the front door. “Captain Johnson,” she exclaimed, “and Levi! When did you get here?”

“A few days ago.” The captain gave her a kiss on the cheek. “And just in time. I think the priest is right behind us.”

Jamie took her hand and led her to the newly constructed grape arbor. They faced the priest, said their vows, and then they were man and wife. He paused right before he kissed her, their lips inches apart.

“Are you happy, Sarah? Will this be enough for you?”

“You’re enough of a challenge for me, Jamie Thompson. I knew it from the first moment I saw you.” She closed the distance between them. “Kiss me,” she murmured.

The heat in his eyes almost scorched her. “With pleasure, Mrs. Thompson.”

* * * **

Thank you for reading
Restless Hearts.

If you enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you would leave a review on Amazon.com:

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Please continue reading for an excerpt from Book Two of the Gold Rush Series, featuring Lily’s story.

About the author:

Mona Ingram is the author of 21 romance novels, including two novellas. Many of her stories take place in British Columbia, where she has lived since the age of twelve. In recent years, she has lived in the Okanagan Valley and on Vancouver Island. In addition to reading and writing, traveling and bird watching are among Mona’s favourite pastimes.

Link to Mona’s Amazon author page:

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http://www.amazon.com/Mona-Ingram/e/B001JSDJVO

Mona’s Blog:

http://monaingram.blogspot.ca

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