“Oh,” she said, her eyes round. “How bad is it?”
“It’s bad,” he admitted. “I might lose the business. But I’ve already talked to your pa and he’s agreed to hire me on as a farm hand if I do. We’ll still get married, but it might take me some time to get everything in order so that we can be together in our own place.”
“I’m so sorry, Jesse. I can’t even picture you as a farm hand.”
“No? I’ve helped you with your chores often enough.”
“That’s true, but your real skills are singing and playing the piano.”
Jesse buttoned his travel carrier. “It’s not for certain that I wouldn’t be able to entertain again in the future, and it’s not even for certain that I will have to stop now. I don’t want you to worry about it, darlin’, all right? I didn’t even want to tell you, but it’s only fair you should know. I feel bad because I know how much you dislike living on the farm and how much you want a new kind of life.”
She shook her head. “Don’t worry about me, Jesse. I’m happy enough being with you. But I hate Elijah! He’s ruining your life.”
Jesse focused his attention on her and spoke firmly. “No, he’s not. The only way he would have ruined my life is by taking you out of it. Just like you feel happy being with me, I feel the same way about being with you. The rest is not nearly as important.”
“Oh, Jesse,” she sighed. “You really do love me, don’t you?”
“Maybe just a little bit,” he said with a small smile. He walked to the bed and took her hands in his, bringing her to her feet. He looked into her eyes for a moment and made a decision. Dropping to one knee, he looked up and said the words he’d wanted to say for some time.
“My beautiful, sweet Lily. You’re a woman like no other. Your support strengthens me, and your kindness softens me. I want and need you by my side for the rest of my life. I promise to take care of you always and give you the love you deserve. When I get back, will you do me the great honor of marrying me?”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears before she fell into his arms. “Of course I’ll marry you, Jesse. I’ve wanted to marry you for years.”
He smiled and wrapped his arms around her, then stood and sat on the bed with her on his lap. Now that his woman was happy, he decided to make sure his little girl felt taken care of as well. He kissed her forehead and said, “Now, young lady, you’re going to be a good girl while I’m away, aren’t you? You’re still recovering from being sick, and I don’t want you exerting yourself.” He watched her eyes soften into submission and felt her body curl into his.
“I’ll be good, papa,” she said with a contented sigh.
“You’d better be,” he continued. “I’ll hear about it if you aren’t, understand?”
She nodded. “Yes, sir.”
He left town in his buggy an hour later after giving Lily one final kiss. He felt joy over his engagement to Lily, but his worry over the state of the saloon shadowed it. He worried not just for himself, but also for Florence and the employees who worked for them. He hoped things would turn around, but he didn’t see how they could.
Chapter Ten: The Red Rose
Lily watched Jesse’s buggy amble along the road until it was out of sight. Following that, she lifted her head, gathered her skirts, and marched straight through the front doors of the saloon. She felt a bit guilty disobeying one of Jesse’s rules within minutes of him being gone, but he needed her help, and she knew just how to help him.
She found Florence in Jesse’s office, shuffling through the bills with a look of dismay on her handsome, sharp features. She looked up as Lily walked in. Before she could speak, Lily let her know why she was there.
“Jesse told me there’s financial trouble here at the saloon, and I’d like to offer my services. He’s gone for a week and needn’t know about it.”
Florence scowled at her. “If you’re offering what other women here offer, you might as well giddy on up right out that door. Jesse would kill me, and I’m not even sure that’s an exaggeration.”
Lily shook her head. “No, it’s not what you think. Let me explain.” She gave a detailed account of what she wished to do to earn money at the saloon. Her plan seemed flawless, and the curious expression on Florence’s face changed into hope the longer Lily spoke.
After Lily finished laying out her plan, Flo picked up a fan and flapped it in front of her face. “Darlin’, I’m impressed. That might just be what the place needs to turn itself around.”
Lily grinned and clapped her hands together once in excitement. “So we’ll do it then?”
“Yes. We’ll have to be really careful, though,” Florence admonished. “No one can know it’s you for it to work.”
“Mum’s the word,” Lily said with another grin. The two shook hands. Florence and a few of her girls tacked up signs all over town with an announcement that made those walking by stop and take note. Within a day the saloon and its employees were prepared for the big event, explained in large print on every sign.
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