The Enchanted Land Read online

  The man with the red face laughed. “Of course, he did get to keep the wallpaper.”

  “That’s all he got, though. He sure didn’t get anything else.”

  Again, the explosive laughter.

  “The smartest thing that pretty boy ever did was buy the little lady from Madame Nicole. My wife loves that fella, but I never could abide him. He’s so pretty. I thought he belonged on the mantelpiece instead of walking around. But with that sweet little Morgan, he can spend all the time he wants at my house. Course it sure costs me a lot for the opportunity of lookin’ at her.”

  “Hey, mister, we say somethin’ to interest you?” The man’s tone was slightly belligerent.

  Seth smiled, slow and easy. “I was just listening. Heard the name Morgan. Used to know a girl named Morgan.”

  “Come set down with us and tell us about your Morgan. I can’t believe there could be another woman like San Francisco’s Morgan Colter.”

  Seth tried to hide his emotions. It was Morgan! And the little bitch had the gall to use his name. You’d think she’d at least use another name. “Seth… Blake’s my name.” The three men introduced themselves—Charley Farrell, Joe Beal, and Arthur Johnston.

  The red-faced man was Joe. “Our Morgan’s a real beauty. A little blond thing, big blue eyes and a bodywooeee.” He grinned and looked to the other two men for agreement.

  “Couldn’t be the Morgan I knew. The one I knew was probably not as pretty as your horse.” He grinned and took a sip of his beer. “This Morgan of yours sure sounds like something. What’s the chances of getting a, shall we say, private showing?”

  The three men all started to talk at once and Charley quieted them. He leaned back in his chair. “Well, Mister Blake, this little gal comes real high. I mean real high.” He gave furious looks to the other two men to quiet their protests. “You see, she used to work at Madame Nicole’s place, a real classy cathouse. You practically have to show your teeth along with a carriage full of gold just to go look at one of Madame Nicole’s shows. Well, this little Morgan was the star at Madame Nicole’s place—used to go on stage and have two girls undress her for everybody to see. Of course, that was a special-invitation show only.” Again he gave warning looks to the two other men, both of whom were staring, open-mouthed, wondering at this fantastic story.

  “Now she’s left Nicole’s and works for this blond feller. He’s so pretty, and he looks like Morgan. They’re a real pair, struttin’ around town, goin’ to the opera. Well, as I was sayin’, this little lady is expensive. She and this feller sell you things for your house. If you’ve got enough money and buy enough stuff for your house, you get a little extra on the side. You know what I mean?”

  Seth managed a smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I guess I do know what you mean.”

  Charley continued. “Art, here, just finished decorating a whole house, and it was a real pleasure, wasn’t it?”

  Arthur nodded, silently.

  “See, me and Joe are still workin’ on our houses. So far, I’ve only spent three thousand dollars, and that ain’t near enough for me to enjoy it yet.”

  Art coughed nervously. “You come to try your luck in the gold fields, Mr. Blake?”

  Seth drained his beer. “Yes, I think I will.” He turned back to Charley. “Whereabouts does this Morgan live?”

  Charley could hardly contain his laughter. “Boy, you won’t have a chance dressed like that. Even at Madame Nicole’s she wouldn’t entertain no goldminer. You need fancy duds like these.” He gave Seth directions to Theron’s house and Seth left the saloon.

  Charley waited until the big man was out of the building before he allowed his laughter to escape. “The man’ll try everything to get her. He’ll see her and think she’s for sale and…” He realized the other two men weren’t sharing in his laughter.

  “Come on, men. Don’t you see the joke? Can’t you see ol’ Theron’s face when that big dumb cowboy makes an offer for his little jewel?”

  “Charley, Miss Colter is a lady, and you know about Nicole’s sales. Morgan Colter didn’t entertain in no whorehouse and you know it. I don’t care about the cowboy, but if Morgan or Theron heard, they could do us damage.”

  “And besides, I like the little gal. She’s a nice lady, and she keeps to herself. And nobody’s even seen the inside of her room, even though everybody’s tried.”

  “Oh, hell! Can’t a man have a little joke? I was only funnin’ the man.” He finished his beer. “Let’s get out of here. Charlotte’s got Morgan and her pretty boy comin’ to tea and she wants me there.” He looked at the other two reproachfully. “A man can dream, can’t he?”

  Seth’s senses were reeling. She was here! She was in San Francisco. A real classy cathouse, the man had said. Did she leave Montoya, or did he get tired of her?

  Without conscious thought, he followed the man’s directions to Theron’s house. He stood staring at it for a long time before he saw the door open.

  “Theron, shouldn’t we take some of the upholstery samples? Charlotte may want to change her mind about that awful brocade.”

  “Morgan, will you never learn? That woman would never change her mind, not unless you held a gun on her. We could try that, couldn’t we? ‘Lady, either you pick what we say, or you die,’” he mocked. “How’s that?”

  “Oh, Theron, sometimes I wish we could. What is it with these people and purple?” She was smiling and turned in Seth’s direction an instant before he disappeared around a building.

  Her knees gave way and she grabbed Theron’s arm for support.

  “Morgan, what is it? Jarvis, go to the Farrells’ and tell them Morgan is ill, that we can’t make it.” Theron picked Morgan up and carried her upstairs to her room.

  Seth watched from the street, his rage mounting by the second. He turned and left the area.

  “Seth. It was Seth, Theron. I saw Seth.”

  “But Morgan, Seth is dead. It must have been someone who looked like him.”

  “Theron!” Her eyes blazed. “It was Seth. He’s alive. I have to find him.” She started up from the bed.

  “Not now you don’t. I don’t like your color. Jeannette, get Morgan some tea.” He looked at Jeannette knowingly and she nodded.

  “Theron, you have to understand. There is a reason that I have to find him now, without delay. He may hate me. He may think I left him for another man. He was told I did.”

  “How could he believe that? Morgan, you don’t realize how much you talk about that man. I’d really like to meet him, because I’m sure he has a golden halo and his feet are supported by little clouds. If something is good … anything—art, food, wallpaper paste—you compare it to Seth. If it’s bad, then it’s not like Seth.”

  “Theron, please!” She looked at him in desperation.

  “Here’s your tea.” Again, he and Jeannette exchanged looks. “Drink this and then we’ll talk about finding your Seth.”

  Morgan sipped at the tea and then, at Theron’s urging, drained her cup.

  “Now, let’s go.” She swung her legs off the bed, then put her hand to her forehead.

  “Theron! You put something in the tea. How am I going to find Seth? How am I… He hates me…”

  “She’s asleep. Good.”

  “Mr. Shaw, what’s wrong with her? I’ve never seen her so upset. Do you think she really saw her husband?”

  “I don’t know, but I plan to make a few inquiries while she sleeps. A man with sandals and a white robe should be easy enough to find, don’t you think?”

  “Sandals?” Jeannette looked puzzled and then smiled. “Mr. Shaw! You shouldn’t say things like that.”

  “If she wakes up, try to keep her calm. I’ll be back soon.”

  Theron spent the afternoon and part of the evening trying to find Seth. He knew very little about him except that he was large. The bartender at one saloon seemed to remember a man like that, but he wasn’t sure. Two wagon trains had arrived in San Francisco that day and