The Whippoorwill Trilogy - Sharon Sala Page 0,3

life looked any rosier. As he handed her a glass, he realized he had subconsciously been hoping she would behave as the women from his past—simpering and flirting while knowing full well that their lush bodies and sweet lips tricked hungry men into vowing words of love and marriage that they didn’t really want.

“To friends,” he said gently, and lifted his drink.

The distinct clink of glass to glass echoed within the quiet of the room, and he thought as they took their first sip that at least this woman was honest. She didn’t pretend. With her, a man knew where he stood.

“To friends,” Letty echoed, and then walked out of her room onto the small balcony, knowing the man would follow, which he did.

“Why, this is a wonderful place,” Jim said, taking note of the night sky as well as being able to look down upon the sprinkling of lamp lights throughout the small town.

“I guess.” She tossed back the wine in the glass as if it was medicine.

“Would you care for more?”

Letty’s expression tightened. “You don’t have to get me drunk to do it. Or maybe it’s you who has to get drunk before you can lower yourself to use a woman like me.”

Jim frowned. “What are you getting at?”

Thankful for the dark that hid the tears in her eyes, Letty handed him the empty glass and then put her hands on her hips in a defiant manner.

“It’s obvious you’re not like the men around here. You’re used to elegant women and nice places. I’m not elegant and the White Dove Saloon isn’t much, either.”

“I’m afraid you misjudge me, Miss Murphy. What I once was is no longer important. I am nothing more than a man who makes his living at cards. I have no home, no family… nothing but a horse and two suits of clothing. I fail to see where that sets me above you in any way.”

Letty’s heart started to pound. What was he up to? “Then what is this all about?”

For a moment he said nothing, and then he exhaled slowly. She could hear it from where she was standing.

“I can tell that I’ve caught you at a bad time,” he said gently. “My mistake. Next time we’ll do this at the beginning of your day, rather than at the end of it.”

He took a step forward, once again lifting Letty’s hand to his lips, but this time he pressed a kiss in the center of her palm.

Letty’s heart skipped a beat.

“You sing like an angel, Miss Murphy. Maybe tomorrow night when you sing, you might look my way. At least I can pretend that you’re singing to me.”

“Uh… I don’t—”

He tipped his hat, lightly vaulted the distance between her balcony and the balcony on the adjoining building, then took the stairs down to the street. She watched as he sauntered toward the hotel and then disappeared inside.

She couldn’t think. She couldn’t move. Something wonderful had just happened but she wasn’t sure what. Not since her father’s death had she been treated so decently. She wanted to laugh and at the same time, felt like crying. In the distance, she heard the sound of horses’ hooves and then a shout of laughter. Confused by what had transpired, she went back into her room and closed the door.

Wearily, she pulled the curtains then took off her clothes and stepped into the tub of bath water Will the Bartender furnished for her each night. As she sank into the depths, relishing the warmth of the water lapping at her thighs, she thought of how many trips Eulis had made up the stairs to fill her bath. If he spent that much time on his own personal hygiene, he wouldn’t be so disgusting, but the moment the thought was born, she realized that judging the town drunk was hardly in her best interests. Even though she hadn’t let demon rum get the best of her, they weren’t so far removed from each other after all.

For three free drinks of liquor each night, Eulis Potter swept the floors of the White Dove Saloon and carried water for Letty’s bath.

For a roof over her head and food in her belly, Letty Murphy let strangers have their way with her body.

Disgusted with the rambling manner of her thoughts, she reached for the wash rag and lye soap and began scrubbing the scent of her customers from her skin. A short while later, she turned back the covers on her bed and