Way Out West Read Online Free PDF

three outfits from the wardrobe room at the way station, the
precious manual and her identification card. Her sneakers weren’t allowed but
she’d brought them anyway.
     “Well, thanks for the
lift,” she said breezily.
     His hand lingered atop
the brown paper. “Mind if I accompany you?”
     The ride into town had
been far from pleasant and the prospect of starting her new job was as
palatable as what she’d stepped in. So, yes, Rand’s company would be
comforting. But he didn’t need to know that. Shouldn’t a lady keep some things
to herself?
     Callie looked toward
the swinging doors as a man walked out and tipped his hat to her in passing. “Suit
yourself,” she answered. “It’s a public place.”
     With a hand at her
elbow, Rand followed her up the steps and held one door open for her to pass
through. Voices rang out as soon as they entered.
     “Rand! Good to see ya.”
     “Well, look what the
cat dragged in.”
     From behind an
intricately carved mahogany bar, the bartender snapped a towel over his
shoulder and placed a clean glass before him. Behind him was a mirrored wall
adorned with four ornate brass oil lamps and dozens of colored bottles.
     “A mite early for a
card game, Rand.” The man waved his hand indicating the empty tables. “Not much
goin’ on yet.”
     “Not here for a game
just yet, Smitty. Later.”
     Smitty bobbed his head
toward Callie. “I can see as how you’re occupied at the moment.” She didn’t
like the third-person implication and turned a shoulder to Smitty.
     One side of Rand’s mustache twitched up a hair. “Do you know where we might find Miss Becky?” He looked
around and up to the balcony overlooking the large room.
     “Try the office. She
was doing some book work earlier.”
     Just then a door behind
Callie opened and a red-haired, buxom beauty stepped forward. “Rand! I thought I heard your voice. Welcome back.” She approached with open arms.
     “Another familiar face,
I see,” Callie grumbled as the two embraced in a far too friendly manner for
Callie to misinterpret. “Why don’t I just wait outside till the steam clears,”
she whispered close to Rand’s shoulder.
     She turned to leave but
his fingers caught the sleeve of her dress. Releasing Miss Becky, Rand put his hand on Callie’s shoulder and forced her around.
     “Becky, I’d like to
introduce you to Callie.”
     “My, this is a first,
Rand, you bringing in a woman. And a right pretty little thing, too. Nice to
meet you, Callie.”
     Rand’s hand pressed
into Callie’s shoulder until she couldn’t ignore the message. “Hi. Nice to meet
you, Becky.”
     Releasing her shoulder,
he cleared his throat. “I didn’t actually bring her in. We sort of met up on
the trail. She had a little trouble with her...transportation.”
     Suddenly raising her
nose a notch, Becky had obviously caught wind of the foul odor and looked down
at Callie. Her eyes drifted to the dark splotch on Callie’s hip.
     “What’d you do, Rand? Drag her in?”
     Callie narrowed her
eyes at Rand, daring him to make her look more foolish than she already did. But
deep down, she knew he wouldn’t. He was a gentleman.
     “Actually, Becky,
Callie is here to work for you.”
     Becky’s eyes widened. “Well,
that’s a horse of a different color. Or should I say, odor?” She winked
mischievously at Callie.
     Instantly, she knew she
was going to like Becky.
     “Come on, darlin’,”
Becky drew a comforting arm around Callie. “Let’s get you out of those
traveling clothes and into something a lot fresher and far more appealing.” The
two women headed for the stairs leading to the second floor.
     Rand called out before
they stepped up. “Callie?” She turned to him. “You listen carefully to Miss
Becky.”
     Why did she have this
nagging compulsion to answer, “Yes, master”? Instead she waved and continued up
the stairs.
     “Don’t worry, Rand. I’ll take good care of her,”