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everybody’s calling you.” Saul winked. “Men’ll be riding in from miles around to see that signature and sleep in her bed . . . after she’s gone, of course. I’ll have a big sign put on the door. TEMPERANCE TEMPEST ROOM .”
    Lucky shook his head. Life was never dull in the Bend. Maybe because the denizens wouldn’t let it be.
    Tempest covered her mouth with her hand, but chuckles escaped around her fingers.
    â€œWhat about Big Jim’s bar?” Lucky was unable to think of another thing to say since the situation was so crazy.
    â€œBig confab over at the Red River Saloon. They’re trying to figure out how to fix Lulu.”
    â€œCouldn’t they get the artist to help?” Tempest asked.
    â€œSome Eastern tenderfoot carved the bar, drank his whiskey in payment, and left town,” Saul said.
    â€œWhere’d he go?” she asked.
    â€œThat’s the trouble. Nobody knows.” Saul stroked his mustache. “And nobody much cared till today.”
    â€œI doubt it’s fixable,” Lucky said.
    â€œDon’t say that out loud,” Saul warned. “It’s one thing for Miss Tempest to get the rough side of Big Jim’s tongue and be abandoned by her temperance league. It’s quite another to say the cut she put in Lulu can’t be healed.”
    â€œOkay,” Lucky said. “Not another word. I delivered Miss Tempest to the hotel and into your care. Now where’s my room?”
    â€œNext door to the Temperance Tempest Room.” Saul pointed toward the stairs. “If you’ll see Miss Tempest to her new abode, I’ll get Joseph to work on that sign. And Mama Lou will bring supper later.”
    â€œAm I included in the vittles?” Lucky’s stomach rumbled at the thought of good food.
    Saul frowned. “No. It’s courtesy of the hotel and Mama Lou’s Café for Miss Tempest. But there’ll probably be enough for two.”
    â€œIf you’re hungry, I’ll share,” Tempest said.
    â€œMama Lou’s the best cook in town.” Saul hurried out from behind his desk. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He stopped at the front door and looked back. “Oh, yes, Manny over at Manny’s Stable said to tell you that he’s got a gentle mare you can borrow anytime you need her.”
    Lucky watched Saul hurry out the door, then turned back to Tempest. “Are you normally this lucky?”
    â€œI’ve never had so many people be so kind to me. I wish now I hadn’t hurt their bar,” she said wistfully. “Maybe it’s because they don’t know me.”
    â€œMore likely they recognize you as one of their own.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œThe Bend is a town of outsiders, outlaws, and independents.”
    â€œThat’s not me.”
    He cocked his head, studying her. He didn’t think she knew herself very well, or she’d lived her life according to society’s rules till now. One day soon she might come to realize that she was no ordinary young lady. She appeared to draw out the best and the worst in people. That could be a gift or a curse, depending on how it influenced her or others.
    She was a mystery he’d like to unravel, but he didn’t have time to satisfy personal curiosity or pleasure. He was here to meet somebody and get a job done before it was too late.
    â€œLet’s get you settled upstairs,” he said.
    â€œYou’ve been kind to me. I’m sorry about your room. I don’t expect the best. Anything will do. Let’s go switch before Saul gets back.” She quickly headed for the stairs.
    He watched her walk away with her long skirts swaying in a way that made a man stop thinking with the head on his shoulders.

Chapter 6
    Tempest waited at the top of the stairs. She didn’t understand the sudden turn of events. How could she have gone from being the most unpopular woman in the Bend