Free Ten Thousand Charms by Allison Pittman Page B

was infuriated at her body's betrayal, wishing she could refuse John William the help he needed. With a sound of impatience, she took the fussy girl away from this man who, all of a sudden, seemed too clumsy and inept to hold a child much less comfort one. Gloria made a soft shushing noise as she placed the knuckle of her first finger into the baby's mouth. Little Kate's powerful gums gripped her finger, and Gloria knew this child would not be appeased for long.
    This cozy picture of maternal comfort seemed out of place with the glare of pure hatred she leveled at John William, who met her gaze head on. The previous air of bumbling apology was gone. When he spoke now, it was with a voice of authority and resolve.
    “Look, I meant no harm in askin’ you to come with me. I didn't figure I had a choice but to ask you, and it ain't no kind of life living without choice. And as much as I need you, I didn't want you to feel locked into anythin’ you didn't want. I need you now,” he said, reaching across to stroke his daughter's face, “but I won't need you forever.”
    Gloria took a few deep breaths, composing herself and allowing her heart to resume its normal, steady beat.
    “How much do you have?” she asked.
    John William looked confused.
    “You said you had enough to start over,” Gloria said, her voice low and calm. “Just how much is that?”
    “In ounces or dollars?”
    “Dollars. Ounces don't mean anything north of California.”
    John William raised his eyes as if in calculation before replying, “About nine hundred.”
    “That's it?” Gloria said. “You weren't meant for this, were you?”
    “I've done some tradin'. A wagon, a team, some supplies.”
    “Here's our deal,” Gloria said. “I'll come with you, me and Danny that is, and I'll do my part.” Gloria felt as if she truly had the upper hand for the first time in her life.
    “And?”
    “And when I'm no longer needed” she felt a twinge of triumph when John William winced, “111 be on my way”
    “Sounds fair.”
    “With five hundred dollars—”
    “Hey, now—”
    “For my services.”
    “I'm not interested in your services”
    “Maybe not,” Gloria said, “but men pay me for the use of my body, and you're using my body. You'll pay for it. Oh, and one more thing.”
    “I can't imagine.”
    “When I leave, I leave Danny with you.”
    “You can't mean that.” John William's eyes darted over to the tiny boy nestled in slumber. “You can't think of abandonin’ your son.”
    “Think of it this way,” Gloria said. “I save Kate's life, you save Danny's. I don't plan to live any kind of life that a child should be a part of.”
    “What about his father? Is it right for you to leave another man's child with a stranger?”
    Gloria looked at John William with the expression that practically guaranteed any man's compliance. “I guess I owe you the truth. I don't really know who Danny's father is.”
    “I'm sorry.”
    “Don't be," Gloria said. “It's nothing to do with you. It's just like my own mama used to say: ‘Darlin', I could marry myself to the king of France about as easy as I could name your daddy'”
    Gloria had never spoken these words aloud, and was shocked that they held none of the humor they always seemed to when her mother spoke them to her. Maybe it was the whiskey slur that had lent them warmth all those years ago.
    “So you see,” she continued, “I got no reason to stay And nowhere to go. I got no choice, either. When do we leave?”
    “How soon can you be packed?” John William awkwardly brushed the hair from his face. It was the same gesture he'd done that first night he brought Kate, and Gloria noted that it was a telltale sign of nervous resolve.
    “How soon do you need me?” she asked.
    “The next payout is Friday. I'd like to leave the next mornin'.”
    Three days.
    Gloria took a quick mental inventory. Three dresses; two babies. Everything else—the furniture, the bedding—all of it belonged