Strictly Taboo(125)

“So now you tell me something…” Clara said, picking up her suitcase and carrying her orange juice in the other hand. “Why does no one ask you to pay for things?” Buck gestured for her to follow him as he led her to a small table in the corner of the murky room. Setting his beer on the table he pulled out Clara’s chair for her.

“Well, I suppose because I'm the mayor.” Buck said as Clara sat down. At the sound of his words, she landed with a solid thud, almost certainly bruising her tailbone.

“I'm sorry?” She said. “I'm not sure that I heard you correctly.” Buck sat down across from her at the table and took a long swig of his cool beer.

“I said, likely it's because I am the mayor.” He said. Clara nodded slowly and then reaching across the table, she took Buck’s beer and took a long drink of it herself. When she finished, she set the beer down and spoke breathlessly.

“Yes…that's what I thought you said.”





Chapter 5

Drinking just a mouthful of Buck’s beer had made Clara feel lightheaded. In an effort to find her feet again, she guzzled down the full glass of orange juice. Buck watched her, amused.

“Would you like another?” He asked, nodding at the empty glass. “Or perhaps something a little stronger this time so you don't have to go thievin’ mine?” He smirked. Clara shook her head.

“No…thank you. If you could though, please see your way to getting me a glass of water, I would be very much obliged.” She said. Realizing that Clara must not be feeling too well, Buck wasted no time going back to the bar and fetching her a cool glass of water. As he placed it on the table in front of her, he crouched on the floor beside her.

“Is everything okay, Clara?” He asked, looking up in to her beautiful blue eyes. She took a deep breath and slowly let it go before nodding.

“I think so. It must be drinking that beer on top of being so tired from all the traveling.” She said.

“That will do it.” Buck said. “It must be a mighty long trip from Virginia out here to Texas.” He said, reaching up and taking her water, forcing it in to her hand. “Here, drink.” Clara took a small sip of the cool water but when she tried to set the glass down, Buck caught it and lifted it back to her lips. “More.” He said. She took a few more sips and looked to him for approval before she set the glass back down. This time Buck nodded. “Now, I know as how you are waitin’ for Mr. Andrew Montague, but I think that perhaps a little catnap would do you some good.”

“I can't!” Clara began to protest. Buck held up his hand.

“No argument.” He said. “You need to rest before you just keel right over and these men here have me up for murderin’ you.” Clara laughed lightly.

“You don't understand.” She said. Then leaning down, she spoke in a whispered tone. “I have no money. Mr. Montague was supposed to take care of all of that. I have no money, no where to stay…just this ridiculous suitcase.” She kicked it softly as tears began to well up in her eyes once again.

Buck sighed heavily.

“Now, Miss Clara, if you don't know me by now then I can hardly believe that you have been in my company for the last goodness knows how many hours.” He stood upright and pulled the back of Clara’s chair to help her up. “You have a room here for as long as you need it.” He said. Clara opened her mouth to protest, but seeing the look on his face, she thought better of it and she nodded her agreement instead.

Buck held out his hand and without hesitation, Clara put her hand in his. With his free hand, Buck took hold of the small suitcase and then walked Clara over to the bar. With one jerk of his head, Buck got a nod from the bartender and seconds later a key attached to a wooden fob. Scooping up the key and slipping it in to his pocket, Buck took hold of the suitcase once again and proceeded to lead Clara through a narrow door and up a single flight of stairs.



When the door the the room opened, it revealed a much larger room than Clara had been expecting. In stark contrast to the dull and basic bar room downstairs, the bedroom was wallpapered and decorated as nicely as any home. A double bed sat against the wall with a bench at it’s foot and a fireplace across from it. In the far corner by the window sat two red velvet wingback chairs with a small table between them. Finally off to the side was a small powder room that, surprisingly to Clara, was not shared with the adjacent room.

Buck released Clara’s hand and carried her suitcase to the slender bench at the end of the bed. Then, walking to the side of the bed, he pulled back the corner of the bedding and looked at Clara.