Whippoorwill Read Free

why she’d said that.
    Ah, so that explains it. “Then I thank you for the courtesy of considering me a friend.”
    Letty frowned. “I don’t know what I consider you, mister, but I wouldn’t call you a friend. I don’t have any friends.”
    “My friends call me Gentleman Jim, but I would like it if you would call me Jim.” He set the wine and glasses on a nearby table, opened the wine and then looked at Letty. “May I pour?”
    “It’s why you came. Suit yourself,” she said, and plopped down into a chair, thankful to be off her feet and not on her back at the same time.
    He muffled a sigh as he poured the wine. She was harder than he would have liked. From her viewpoint though, he doubted his life looked any rosier. As he handed her a glass, he realized he had subconsciously been hoping she would behave as the women from his past—simpering and flirting while knowing full well that their lush bodies and sweet lips tricked hungry men into vowing words of love and marriage that they didn’t really want.
    “To friends,” he said gently, and lifted his drink.
    The distinct clink of glass to glass echoed within the quiet of the room, and he thought as they took their first sip that at least this woman was honest. She didn’t pretend. With her, a man knew where he stood.
    “To friends,” Letty echoed, and then walked out of her room onto the small balcony, knowing the man would follow, which he did.
    “Why, this is a wonderful place,” Jim said, taking note of the night sky as well as being able to look down upon the sprinkling of lamp lights throughout the small town.
    “I guess.” She tossed back the wine in the glass as if it was medicine.
    “Would you care for more?”
    Letty’s expression tightened. “You don’t have to get me drunk to do it. Or maybe it’s you who has to get drunk before you can lower yourself to use a woman like me.”
    Jim frowned. “What are you getting at?”
    Thankful for the dark that hid the tears in her eyes, Letty handed him the empty glass and then put her hands on her hips in a defiant manner.
    “It’s obvious you’re not like the men around here. You’re used to elegant women and nice places. I’m not elegant and the White Dove Saloon isn’t much, either.”
    “I’m afraid you misjudge me, Miss Murphy. What I once was is no longer important. I am nothing more than a man who makes his living at cards. I have no home, no family… nothing but a horse and two suits of clothing. I fail to see where that sets me above you in any way.”
    Letty’s heart started to pound. What was he up to? “Then what is this all about?”
    For a moment he said nothing, and then he exhaled slowly. She could hear it from where she was standing.
    “I can tell that I’ve caught you at a bad time,” he said gently. “My mistake. Next time we’ll do this at the beginning of your day, rather than at the end of it.”
    He took a step forward, once again lifting Letty’s hand to his lips, but this time he pressed a kiss in the center of her palm.
    Letty’s heart skipped a beat.
    “You sing like an angel, Miss Murphy. Maybe tomorrow night when you sing, you might look my way. At least I can pretend that you’re singing to me.”
    “Uh… I don’t—”
    He tipped his hat, lightly vaulted the distance between her balcony and the balcony on the adjoining building, then took the stairs down to the street. She watched as he sauntered toward the hotel and then disappeared inside.
    She couldn’t think. She couldn’t move. Something wonderful had just happened but she wasn’t sure what. Not since her father’s death had she been treated so decently. She wanted to laugh and at the same time, felt like crying. In the distance, she heard the sound of horses’ hooves and then a shout of laughter. Confused by what had transpired, she went back into her room and closed the door.
    Wearily, she pulled the curtains then took off her clothes and stepped into the tub of bath water Will the