Free Chastity by Elaine Barbieri Page B

warningsome people around here have strong feelings about the Indians. For that reason, Mr. Jenkins travels incognito. He doesn't know you, so he might not acknowledge who he is. It might be best if you just went along with anything he says."
        Chastity nodded again.
        Incredulous, Reed stared at the door as Chastity pulled it closed behind her. The ease with which he had manipulated her astounded him. He had never met a more gullible woman! Whatever had that fellow in Caldwell been thinking when he allowed her to travel alone?
        Suddenly annoyed by the strange discomfort stirred by that thought, Reed closed his eyes. What difference did it make to him, anyway?
     
    Chapter Four
     He didn't like this one bit.
        Leaning casually against the side of a building, Ed Jenkins squinted against the glare of the late afternoon sun as the red-haired woman left the telegraph office and made her way back up the street. He tipped his hat down low on his forehead, his gaze intent. Something was wrong. He had been waiting for two days for Farrell to make contact with him. He had just about given up when the red-haired woman showed up at the telegraph office asking for any messages left for Reverend Reed Farrell.
         Reverend Reed Farrell?
        Jenkins unconsciously sneered. He had heard plenty about Reed Farrell, and from all that he'd heard, the fellow was more adept at planting   outlaws than converting them. He had also heard that Farrell worked alone.
        Observing the red-haired woman more closely, Jenkins straightened up slowly and started after her. For all he knew, Will Morgan had figured out that he was in town and was using this woman to lay a trap for him. That would be just the kind of thing Morgan did. He was good at fooling people, at making them believe in him just like Sonny had believed in him. There was nothing he had been able to say to Sonny to make him see through the promises Morgan had made to him before it was too late.
        The red- haired woman turned out of sight on the street, and Jenkins walked faster. He turned the corner in time to see her walk through the entrance of the Biltmore Hotel. He paused to survey the street. He wouldn't put anything past Morgan.
        The red- haired woman disappeared around the curve of the staircase as Jenkins entered the lobby. He scrutinized the area carefully, then started up behind her, only to feel a hand on his arm stay him.
        "She's a good-lookin' woman, ain't she?"
        Jenkins turned toward the middle-aged woman in the bright red dress standing beside him. He leered purposefully. "She sure is. She gave me the eye out on the street, and then she turned in here. I ain't never had a clearer invitation."
        "You're dreamin', fella." The woman laughed,    then extended her hand. "My name's Sally. I own this place, and I'm tellin' you that whatever you think you saw… you didn't. That lady you just saw walkin' up them steps is a lady . And she's married."
        "Married, huh?" Jenkins shook his head. "You sure?"
        "Couldn't be no more sure . Her husband's the Reverend Reed Farrell, so don't go gettin' any ideas."
         "A preacher! She don't look like no preacher's wife to me!"
        "And that preacher don't look like no preacher, either, so I guess that makes them a good pair. She's been takin' real good care of him, too."
        "Takin' care of him?"
        "He's sick. Doc Carr's been visitin' real regular."
        "That right?"
        "It took three men to get him up the stairs the first night they came. Good thing Room One was empty, too. As big as he is, I don't think them men could've carried him a step farther."
        "So, you think I'd be wastin' my time if I introduced myself to the lady…"
        "Let me tell you somethin'." Sally's expression abruptly sobered. "If you know what's good for you, you'll stay as far away from that lady as you can, 'cause I'm tellin'