“No.” She tried to give it back. “You need this money.”
Daisy backed away, her hands clasped behind her back. “If Mr. Carmine finds it, he’ll take it. He says any coin we make is his until we’ve worked our time. Please take it with you. It took us so long to save.”
Maggie didn’t try to stop the tears this time. “I’ll keep it for you,” she agreed, giving the girl a tight hug. “You come and get it when you’re ready. I promise to help you.”
Daisy’s agreement took a moment, long enough Maggie thought she’d argue, and though she finally nodded, her sad smile broke Maggie’s heart.
“Come, Margaret. We have to go now.”
****
Maggie silently followed Kris out of the building, easing past a crowd of men waiting for the saloon to open. She didn’t seem aware of her surroundings until he pulled her to a stop to keep her from walking into someone.
“Well, looky here. I think she’s even purtier than little Daisy.” Kris stepped between Maggie and the man leering at her. “How much?”
Maggie looked up at Kris in confusion. “What does he—”
“She’s not for sale.” Kris’s words were low and serious.
The man’s grin faded. “Come on, now. You brung her down the stairs from the girls’ rooms. I seen ya. I won’t keep her fer long. Got my money right here.” He started digging in the pocket of his pants.
Kris’s temper exploded. “I said she’s not for sale. Now, get out of our way.”
The man leaned over, putting his face much too near Maggie for Kris’s comfort. When he pulled a long knife from his boot, Kris pushed her behind him and against the wall of the building next door.
“Now, that ain’t very friendly of you, mister.” He brandished the knife, reflecting the setting sun into Kris’s eyes. “We all share ever’ girl in the place. Don’t we, Marvin?”
“The door’s opening, Harv.” The man’s friend ignored his question—and the pending fight. “Let’s go. Pet’s waiting.”
Kris felt as much as heard Maggie’s soft cry, but he couldn’t turn to comfort her. Squinting against the glare on the knife, he stayed perfectly still, waiting. Finally, the man decided Maggie wasn’t worth missing his first drink. The knife disappeared into his dirty boot, he took one step to the side to get a last look at Maggie, then hurried after his friend into the saloon.
There was no time to lose. Kris wanted Maggie far away when the men found out Pet was no longer waiting for anyone. Taking her hand, Kris strode away down the dusty road, nearly forcing her to run to keep up. Finally, they reached the main street and turned the corner. The streets here were busy, forcing him to ease his pace, but Kris didn’t slow to a walk until they stood before the Bittners’ home.
“I’m so sorry, Maggie, but I couldn’t let you be anywhere near that place when Carmine found Dora. He is not a man to be underestimated. Did I hurt you?”
Maggie remained silent. Worried, he studied her face carefully. She wasn’t hurt, he realized. She was devastated. Twin rivers of tears flowed down her cheeks. Refusing to consider appearances or consequences, Kris opened his arms and Maggie walked into them.
“Thank you for getting me out of that place. When I think of how easily I could have been taken, forced into the very trap that holds little Daisy, it’s…” Her slight frame shook with tremors. “I was so scared, but I couldn’t move. I was screaming inside but I couldn’t force a sound past my lips.”
“It would have taken more than a knife to get by me. That miserable excuse for a man would have lost his arm before he touched you.”
“Knife?” Maggie’s head snapped up. “He had a knife? Kris, you could have been killed.”
Her gaze swept over him, as if to reassure herself he was unharmed. He understood the need. “What were you doing in that place, Maggie?”
“Franz needed help and sent Dwight for Rebekah, but she was gone. I came in her place.”
“Why didn’t he send for Martha?”
Maggie’s brows drew together in thought. “I wondered the same thing. Maybe he didn’t want Sheriff Tate involved?”
“Deputy Owens will make his report to Matt, so he will know.”
“But if Martha had gone to help, the sheriff would have insisted on accompanying her, and that would not have helped the situation.”
Kris was forced to agree. Having the sheriff show up in the back room of a brothel would have increased the risk for the girls.
“That poor woman,” she sobbed. “That could have been me, Kris.” Maggie laid her head on his chest. “God help me, if I can’t find another way to support myself, it still may be.”