aggrieved. "That boy didn't mention nothing about no lady. He just said to set up some rooms. This ain't no fancy parlor, you know."
Before Tyler could take out any more of his anger on the innkeeper, Evie smiled and gently interrupted. "Why, I think this is a perfectly enchanting situation, Mr. O'Ryan. If you would just be so kind as to show us our rooms, I'll take care of everything. My nanny taught me all about traveling, and I'm prepared for just about anything."
Since she had along enough trunks to furnish a small house, Tyler didn't doubt that. He'd had to hire a wagon instead of a carriage to carry them all. He probably should have made her leave them at the warehouse in Natchez, but she had insisted that they needed them while they traveled. For all he knew, they contained gold bullion. Who was he to argue when she was paying the way?
With increasing impatience, Tyler assisted her in sorting out the trunks she wanted carried upstairs. He left her spreading fresh linens on the beds she and Daniel were using. The boy was entitled to a room of his own, but his sister was insistent that he not be forced to use the third floor attic that Ben had reserved. Since Daniel was sitting in the lobby with his head buried in a book, Tyler didn't question her decision.
He left them to their own devices and set out to put a few of his own into action.
* * *
"This is a public accommodation. I see no reason why we should stay in this miserable little room while they're downstairs having fun. Even Benjamin is in there. I heard him. What if they gamble away our boat tickets? I think we ought to go down and watch."
Daniel watched as Evie paced their room—which was considerably larger than their hole-in-the-wall in Natchez despite her description. Ever since Nanny had died and they had discovered the letters, Evie had been restless. She had always been the kind of person who never sat still. Even when she was little and came down sick, she would spend the time writing wild tales. Until Nanny died, Evie had taught a room full of young girls their lessons and spent her spare time tending Nanny's garden in the warm months and painting her walls with murals in the winter. It was a good thing Nanny had the patience of a saint.
But Nanny was no longer here to calm Evie's fits and starts, as she called them, and Daniel was in no position to do so. He lived life vicariously through her escapades and was usually in the position of encouraging her rather than otherwise. But descending into the saloon of drinking, smoking, gambling strangers probably wasn't the wisest of choices for a little fun.
Only Evie had made up her mind and was gathering her little reticule and shawl as if she were going to an afternoon tea party. Hiding a grimace, Daniel reckoned he better accompany her. He didn't think Pecos Martin was going to appreciate the presence of a female at this showdown.
For Daniel was quite certain it was a showdown of sorts from things the men had let slip when they thought he wasn't listening. There was a man by the name of Dorset who had acquired something valuable whom Ben and Pecos were determined to fleece, one way or another. Daniel hoped Pecos Martin wasn't a cheat, but he and Ben had sounded mighty certain of themselves when they set up this game.
The men in the saloon scarcely noticed their entrance. The man they were supposed to call Tyler scowled briefly, then returned to his cards and his wager. Daniel widened his eyes at the growing stack of coins in the table's center. They weren't even using greenbacks, but real gold. This was serious.
Evie, on the other hand, was as enchanted as Daniel was horrified. The scene came straight from the Pecos Martin books. She was disappointed not to see any saloon girls livening the action. Perhaps she could catch a cheat for fun.
There were more onlookers than participants in this game, but Evie wedged her way in to watch the action. Daniel leaned against the bar and accepted the beer the bartender shoved in his direction. Nanny had never allowed him to drink beer, but Evie supposed it was time he learned if he was going to Texas.
Aware of Maryellen across the table from him, Tyler didn't allow her to