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  “No, but I’m making sure the girls entertain in the rooms on the other end of that floor. We have Matt Brown visiting tonight and that’s just to say that man isn’t quiet when he finds his sweet release.”

  Ryan burst out laughing.

  “It’s just she seems so innocent and I don’t want her thinking badly of me because I brought her here. No offense to you, Maggie.”

  “None taken,” said Maggie.

  “I knew you’d take good care of her,” said Ryan

  “That I will,” said Maggie.

  “Well, I’d better get these men rounded up and head out to see what we can find.”

  “Tell them that drinks are on the house after they’re done looking, and yes, so are the girls,” said Maggie

  “I’m sure they’ll be pleased to hear that,” And I said I’d come back and let Gracie know what I’ find.

  “Very well then,” said Maggie.Ryan turned, hearing Maggie talk to him again.

  “She’s very pretty isn’t she?” asked Maggie.

  “Yes, she sure is.”

  Chapter Five

  Gracie had never seen such a fine looking man as Ryan Doyle ever before. She thought that maybe it was something to do with her being close to death and then recovering, because when he’d walked into the room her heartbeat had increased so much she could hear it pounding in her ears and head. She’d also felt flushed and was sure she’d been blushing as he’d sat there talking to her.

  She had every faith in him that he’d find her father and their trunk. He had kind eyes, like those of her father. You could always tell a man’s true character by the look in his eyes. Ryan’s were blue and gorgeous.

  Someone knocked on the door and then opened it.

  “Hi I’m Annabeth and Maggie sent me to see if you need anything.”

  “Thank you, but I’m fine.”

  “Would you like some company?”

  One thing that Gracie had felt since the accident was alone. The girl didn’t look much older than she was, so someone young to visit with was maybe just what she needed.

  “Sure, I’d like that.”

  Annabeth walked into the room and sat on the end of the bed.

  “You’re looking a lot better than when the sheriff brought you in. None of us thought you’d live more than a few hours.”

  Gracie took a deep breath, suddenly realizing that maybe she’d been a fool to try and walk to get help. Maybe she should have stayed on the side of the road.

  “At least the sheriff found me,” said Gracie.

  “And such a handsome one at that.”

  So Gracie wasn’t the only one who thought so. Well, that was foolish. With his looks she was sure every girl had their heart set upon him romancing him.

  “I saw him setting out with four men a few hours ago. He said the coach you were traveling in lost a wheel and your pa died. I’m so sorry, Gracie,” said Annabeth reaching out and squeezing Gracie’s hand.

  “I’ve lost everything.” She bit her lip, telling herself she wouldn’t cry again.

  “Not everything. You have new friends: Maggie, the sheriff, me and the rest of us here.”

  “Maggie’s been very kind.”

  “Yeah, she has a heart of gold.”

  “I don’t suppose there are any books to read. The doctor said I’m to be staying in bed for a few more days and I feel like I have to do something.”

  “You can read? Only wish I could.”

  “Didn’t you go to school?”

  “Was an orphan, then I got in with a family who traveled around and then Miss Maggie took me in.”

  “Would you like me to read to you and then teach you?”

  “Would you, Gracie?” Annabeth stood. “I’ll go see if I can find us a book and would you like your hair brushed? I mean so you can look all nice for when the sheriff returns.”

  She winked at Gracie before heading out of the door.

  Her hair brushed for the sheriff. She hadn’t thought romantically about a man ever before. Maybe she felt something for the sheriff because he was her hero, her knight in shining armor, and it would soon pass.

  ****

  Ryan whistled to the other men when he came across part of what looked like a wagon wheel. It was close to the area that Gracie said she recalled, when they were sliding down into the ravine.

  Mike brought his horse up beside Ryan’s.

  “Get the men to spread out and look through this area. I’m guessing it’s where most of the coach broke apart. I’m going over this way,” said Ryan

  “Will do,” said Mike.Ryan pulled on the reins, riding to the left where a man’s legs were jutting out from behind a tree.

  He got down from his horse and walked it over to it. Ryan looked away. The man’s face was bloodied and his skull smashed.

  Ryan headed over to another area after seeing some steamer trunks sitting near a rock. One had broken open and what looked like a woman’s dress had caught on a shrub. Another trunk sat on its side, its contents spilling down the hill.

  He spotted a pillow.

  Well I’ll be damned. He’d found Gracie’s pillow. He hoped it was hers because the poor girl needed something to cheer her up.

  He tethered the horse to a tree, walked over to where the pillow sat and picked it up. The edge had ripped and it was covered in mud from the heavy rain but with a little cleaning it would be as good as new.

  Ryan looked around the area, scanning it to see if he could see anything else that had spilled from the trunk. A shoe, a pair of glasses, and a small bag that was opened. He lifted it up and saw a few coins inside. Whether it was Gracie’s or not he was going to take it for her.

  He walked farther to the left and saw a photo half buried in the mud. He pulled it out and wiped it off. Gracie, it was Gracie sitting with a woman. It had to be her mother because she clearly looked like her. Ryan put it into his pocket, looked up and then saw a man lying by a rock.

  Gracie had told him she’d found her father by a rock and covered him with a lady’s shawl. A green one sat close to the man’s corpse. He ventured over to it but then grimaced because the amount of time the poor man had been exposed to the elements had not been kind to him.

  Ryan whistled, hoping the others would hear him. They would take every item, and the bodies back to Grantsville and make sure everyone got a decent burial. At least he could return to tell Gracie that he’d found her father. He looked at the pillow again. He was looking forward to seeing her again.

  ****

  It was nightfall by the time the men got back to Grantsville and unloaded the bodies. Five in all, three men and two women and bits and pieces of belongings. When Gracie felt better he’d have her look through it to see if anything else belonged to her.

  He’d cleaned the pillow up as best he could and put it under his arm as he headed into Maggie’s place that was now buzzing with activity. Men drinking, playing cards, and the girls milling around.

  Maggie waved to him.

  “You found her pillow?”

  “I sure hope it’s hers. Is she still awake?”

  “She was the last time I looked in on her. She was reading.”

  “I’ll just go up and give her this, and I found a photo.”

  “Did you find her pa?”

  Ryan nodded.

  Maggie put her hands together. “I’m so happy. The poor girl’s been thinking he was going to spend all eternity out there in the wilderness.”

  “Stop by my office for a drink on your way down.”

  Ryan headed up the stairs and along to the left. He heard a few of the girls and men down at the other end of the hallway and hoped they didn’t get louder and disturb Gracie.

  He knocked on the door.

  “Come in,’ said Gracie.

  He opened the door. The room was lit by one lamp and the light it cast made her look so angelic and beautiful. Her hair was now brushed and cascaded down her shoulders.

  He wanted to reach out and touch it.
r />   Ryan held the pillow up. “Hope this is it?”

  Gracie put her hands to her mouth. “It is, and how can I ever thank you?”

  Ryan thought of one thing but scolded himself for making it the first thought that came into his head. She was young and innocent and he was an older man who’d seen lots of bad things. He’d done a bad thing.

  “It’s probably not as pristine as it once was.”

  He handed it to her and she took it and pressed it into her body before kissing it.

  “I also found a photo that I know is of you and I assume it’s your mother.”

  He handed that to her as well. “Your mother was a beautiful woman. You’re a beautiful woman.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I also found a purse.”

  “That’s mine. You are such an angel.”

  “I’m afraid there were only two coins in it.”

  “Two? I’ll need more money to bury my father. Did you…”

  Ryan nodded.

  “I’d like to see him one last time.”

  “No honey, I don’t think you want to do that. And I can take care of all the arrangements for his funeral and burial. I know people who will do it all for free so you’re not to worry about anything else but getting well.”

  “Thank you and please let me know who else I need to thank.”

  “I will do that and as soon as Doc says you’re able to get up and around we’ll plan a service for him. I know a nice plot of land just outside of town.”

  “If there’s anything I can ever do for you, just name it.”

  That comment went straight to his cock and he felt totally ashamed of himself. But there was just something about Gracie that stirred his libido like never before. He had to get out of here and away from her. Well, at least for the time being. She needed to get well.

  “I’ll leave you to get a good night’s rest and I’ll stop back again tomorrow to fill you in on all the details for your father’s burial.”

  He put on his hat and headed outside. As he got to the stairs he heard a very vocal man screaming out with sheer pleasure. Ryan needed that sort of release too but not with one of Maggie’s girls. His woman of choice was now Gracie.

  Chapter Six

  The moon shining into the room kept Gracie awake. She’d tried to sleep when Ryan had left but been unable to. He’d stirred something within her she’d never felt before. She was inexperienced in such things, still a virgin but she sensed it was something sexual. When he’d entered the room her nipples had puckered, pulling so tight that they’d suddenly chafed against the muslin gown Maggie had given her to wear. Her pussy had pulled and tingled and she’d actually felt its dampness against the bed sheets.

  Now she was wide awake thinking about him. There sure was a lot of noise coming from downstairs and along the hallway. Maybe she’d take a walk and that would make her sleepy. She got out of bed, grimaced because her body still ached, and slipped the robe around her. She’d have to buy herself some clothes for her pa’s funeral. Maybe Maggie had some work, so she could earn some money to pay for everything she needed.

  Gracie headed out of the room and down the hallway. She heard a girl giggling and then a man laughing. She made her way toward the source of the noise. A door was half open and when she looked inside she saw Annabeth. Her legs were spread wide and a man’s bare butt was moving back and forth between them.

  She quickly turned away. Annabeth was having sex with her gentleman friend. Why hadn’t they closed the door? Maybe they hadn’t expected Gracie to walk along the hallway at this time of night.

  Gracie tried to hurry back to her room, embarrassed that she’d spied upon Annabeth—but she got a cramp in her leg. She fell against another door, opening it, and another girl had her head down on a man’s member. He waved to Gracie.

  “Well, would you look at that honey of a girl. Youngest one Maggie’s employed. I’ll have her next time but for now honey, come in and while she sucks my dick I’ll feel your pussy.”

  The girl punched him in the chest. “She is not merchandise,” she said.

  Gracie steadied herself and turned to leave but ran straight into Maggie.

  “Gracie what are you doing up and about?”

  “I couldn’t sleep and I…”

  Gracie was lost for words. She’d never seen a man’s cock before. She’d never seen a woman do that to a man before.

  “It’s okay sweetpea. Let’s get you back to your room.”

  Maggie put her arm around Gracie and walked with her down the hallway.

  “In case you have already guessed what sort of business I run, yes, it’s Grantsville’s house of ill repute.”

  The sheriff had saved her and brought her to a whorehouse.

  ****

  Whoever said women were the biggest gossips were wrong. Men did their fair share of it too. This morning Gracie was the topic. He overheard two men talking in the feed store.

  “Well, that Maggie McGuire’s a dark horse. She’s been keeping a beautiful young angel in her establishment and not told any of us about her.”

  “Ned even got a look at her. Said she’s a looker, full and curvy for a young ‘en, just how he likes’ em. He said he came just looking at her and imagining what her sweet little pussy would be like wrapped around his dick.”

  Ryan’s knuckles turned white. How did Ned Jones get to see Gracie and how dare these men talk about her in such a despicable way?

  “Gentleman, and I say that loosely, because I don’t think you deserve such a title, you are talking about a poor girl who has lost everything.”

  “Ah, so she’s the girl you found in the canyon?”

  “That she is.”

  “And you took her to a whorehouse?”

  Both men laughed.

  “Maggie is taking good care of her and once she’s well she’ll be moving to…” said Ryan. Problem was he didn’t know where she’d be moving to. The poor young woman had no home and no money. No one in town to help her out.

  “That one’s going to be a winner for Maggie. Bring her in a fortune. The business woman that she is, I’m betting she’s already thought of that.”

  Maggie McGuire might be one sassy lady but she knew she’d never put Gracie to work for her. But how come Ned had seen Gracie? He shook his head. Over his dead body would a man touch Gracie in the same way they touched other women under Maggie’s roof.

  He’d go over there right now and make sure of that.

  ****

  Gracie’s head was swimming with thoughts. Maggie had walked her back to her room last night but she hadn’t slept for more than an hour. She almost wanted to laugh at the fact that she was convalescing in a whorehouse. What a strange turn of events her life had taken since they’d left Wisconsin.

  Someone tapped on the door.

  “Come in,” said Gracie.

  Annabeth walked in carrying a tray with some milk and a bowl of oatmeal upon it.

  She sat it down on the bed by Gracie.

  “I heard that you’ve found out what we do here.”

  “Yes, I had no idea that…”

  They both burst out laughing.

  “I’m surprised you don’t want to run. Well, that’s if you’re feeling up to leaving,” said Annabeth.

  “My parents raised me to be open-minded. Probably more open-minded than most. And Maggie and everyone’s been really nice to me so I don’t really care how you make your living.”

  “Have you ever been with a man, Gracie?”

  Gracie shook her head.

  “It’s been such a long time since I was a virgin.”

  “Do you like what you do?” asked Gracie.

  “I’m not treated badly if that’s what you mean.”

  “No, I was wondering if…”

  How could she phrase her question? She didn’t know much about sex and being with a man. What she had heard from other women talking was that sometimes it was a chore and other times you saw shooting stars traveling throug
h the sky.

  “If having sex with a man is fun?” Annabeth had helped her out.

  Gracie nodded.

  “Sometimes it is. The men are paying for my body so I can’t think about myself which means they come quickly most of the time and I don’t get to. There is the odd one that brings me pleasure.”

  Gracie picked up the glass of milk and began sipping it, fascinated by Annabeth’s honesty.

  “Sheriff Doyle’s one of them that fits into that category. He’s a real gent.”

  Gracie swallowed the milk in her mouth, suddenly feeling more than one emotion. Excitement at the thought of having Ryan make love to them. Envy that Annabeth had the privilege of doing just that.

  “He’s real considerate to a lady. Some guys will just stick their cock into you before you’re ready but not the sheriff. He slides his fingers into your pussy and makes sure you’re nice and slick before he gets down to business.”

  Gracie almost spat the milk out of her mouth that she’d just sipped, but managed to get it down her throat. Just the thought of Ryan doing that to her made her own pussy pull and ache and she knew at that point she wanted him to make love to her. She’d do whatever it took to make it come true.

  ****

  Ryan usually walked into Maggie’s place but this afternoon he stormed into the saloon.

  “Was there a fire someplace?” she asked, looking up from her account books.

  “No, but I want to know how Ned Saunders saw Gracie while he was in here last night.”

  Maggie raised her hand. “A simple mistake.”

  “Mistake. He was saying disgusting things about her to some of the guys in the feed store. Just about every man in town has a hard on thinking they’re going to have sex with her.”

  “Oh, I’m sure every man in town would like some time with Gracie. Such a beautiful girl, curves and all for such a young age.”

  “So you are going to put her to work?”

  “Just hang onto that cowboy hat of yours. I would not dream of turning that girl into a soiled dove unless that’s what she wanted.”

  “But…”

  He still didn’t believe what she’d said.

  “But, but, but…How long have I known you Ryan Doyle? I’ve never seen you quite this animated.”