A Shelter of Hope Read Online Free PDF Page A

simple,” Louis replied. “She’s a hard worker, and she knows the fur business. Smart too. Talks and writes French and English, reads just about anything she can get her hands on. She talks good ’cause her ma thought she should. Can’t figure why the woman saw it as useful out here, but what with her comin’ from a good family and all, guess her ma figured it was only right. Simone can cook with little of nothing and make it taste like a feast, and as Gus pointed out, she’ll do a nice job of warming a man’s bed.”
    “How much?” Davis questioned, apparently having heard enough of the sales pitch.
    “I don’t rightly know,” Louis admitted. “Ain’t never considered the matter before now.” He spit on the floor, then leaned back in his chair. “I wouldn’t want to clean you out, but I’d have to make back what I’ve invested. And by your own admission, there ain’t another white woman in the area—lessen you count Ada.”
    Davis nodded. “Don’t mean I couldn’t go find me one.”
    “Yes, but this one already knows the business you plan to set your hand to. Seems kinda foolish to pass up on a gal who’s got both looks and experience. Besides, ain’t gonna be too many women what are willin’ to come out here and be so isolated.”
    Davis’s expression told Louis that he saw the sense in the matter. “And would your daughter also be willing to this arrangement?”
    “She’s only seventeen. She’ll do what I say. She’s had the whip laid to her on occasion, so she knows the price of disobedience.” He didn’t want Davis to think her a troublesome wench, so he quickly continued. “Iffen you think this is somethin’ you’d like, come on back with me to the cabin. You can check out the lines and the cabin—and check her out, too. I might add one other thing … she’s never been with a man. I wouldn’t allow it. You’d be getting yourself something mighty special.”
    “I still don’t understand why you’d be willing to just sell her out like that,” Davis remarked. “Probably plenty of fellows elsewhere that could give you better money than me. Why, some of those mine owners would probably pay a pretty penny to have her there to keep the miners happy.”
    Louis shrugged. The thought had never crossed his mind before Davis mentioned it. He supposed he should think the thing through more clearly. He’d never seen Simone as an asset before. Still, he thought of the pelt business and how summer would find him half crazed and bored. “Suppose I could take her with me,” Louis replied, “but I’d rather not be slowed down.” He sighed and made up his mind right there and then. If Davis wanted her and agreed to his price, he’d do the deal and be done with it. “Look, she has to marry someone. At least you’d have the house and trade, and she’d be comfortable. Who knows? Maybe she’ll give you a few sons to help keep you in your old age. And with Simone off my hands, I can tend to my own needs—get me a wife, maybe have a few sons of my own. After all, I’m not much older than you.”
    Garvey took all of this in and became so fascinated by the idea that he forgot to cheat at the game and Louis threw down the winning hand. “I’ve had enough of cards. What say we make our way to your place?” Davis suggested hopefully.
    Louis eyed the stack of money in front of him. His winnings nearly doubled what he’d started out with, and if he could somehow sell off his place and daughter, he might well triple it. “Let’s go,” he told the man. He hoisted the rifle, which had lain across his lap the entire duration of his stay at the Red Slipper, and threw a gold coin to Ada. “I’ll be back to collect on the change,” he told her with a wry grin.

    Simone had taken the event of her father’s absence from the house as a reason for celebration. Her first order of business came in the form of a rare treat—a hot bath. She went to the pelt shed and took down the largest tub