She didn’t try to hide her disappointment. “I understand. In that case, let me cover the second reason I came to see you today, then I’ll be on my way.”
She pulled her gaze from colorless eyes and looked down into the bag hanging from her shoulder. Digging into the satchel, her fingers found the rectangular object, extending the small-framed photograph to the bootlegger. “I brought something for Eli. A memento, you could say, of his adventure. You can give it to him after I’m gone. Say it came in the post.”
In the candid shot, Eli stood in front of Sing Sing, the boy proud and full of life.
The woman’s fingertip brushed it warmly, and her eyes grew soft again. As if lost in a fond memory, she spoke, “I really do like that fool boy.”
Matthew moved with the sluggishness of cold molasses, reaching out to take the framed photograph. Once it was handed over, he studied Eli’s picture, his scowl even deeper than before.
With a peacemaking smile, the golden girl met Nathaniel’s ruddy gaze. After slipping off her glove, she offered a handshake. “It was nice to see you again, Nathaniel. Glad to find the shoulder mended so well.”
The eldest Emerson stood dumbstruck, took her hand and pumped their joined fists once. After croaking out a “Ma’am,” he released her from his paw and looked down at his younger brother.
When her attention went back to Matthew, he was unwilling to meet her eye. Even so, she offered her hand. “I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me. I won’t trouble you further.”
Hesitating, he put his palm to hers. He did not shake her hand but rather turned it, studying the light smear of bruises across her knuckles. Unsure what on earth possessed him, he growled and brushed his thumb over the marks.
Cheeks going pink, she pulled her fingers away.
Nathaniel’s eyes saw the same thing Matthew’s had. That little girl had punched someone good and hard to earn those bruises.
A slow spreading grin replaced Nathaniel’s stupid expression. “You the one who clocked Walter Keck last night?”
As she pulled her glove back on, the woman shrugged. “He’s lucky that’s all I did. Bastard cornered me outside and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“Jesus, Matthew,” Nathaniel began wheezing he was laughing so hard. “You should let her stay for that reason alone. Wally is one dumb sumbitch.”
By the way the corner of her mouth ticked, she tried to fight a smile, but did nothing to stifle the way her blue eyes glittered in mirth.
“You ain’t never gave us your name.” Matthew’s soft-spoken reprimand was that of a mother correcting a bad mannered child.
With a bashful smirk, she realized her blunder. “Charlotte Elliot… Charlie.” The woman had more to say. “After I’m gone, I would appreciate if you and Nathaniel continued your silence about my profession. There are a lot of bad men who would relish the chance to harm a bounty hunter, and it would be dangerous for me if anyone learned I was really a woman.”
“You can stay,” Matthew grunted so low, so low he wasn’t sure Charlotte heard him.
But a slow spreading smile lit up her face. “Really? I can stay?”
Matthew nodded, shuffling his mass behind the counter to fire up the grill unable to look at that smile for another moment.
Nathaniel grinned, shooting a wink at the glowing blonde. “Be s
eeing you around, Miss Elliot.”
“Call me Charlie.”
“Charlie’s a boy’s name,” the gruff eldest Emerson ribbed, cackling at the glare Matthew shot his way.
The woman just snorted, pushing through the screen door to set off towards her car.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Nathaniel said, slouching back into a chair and pulling a jar of shine from his coat pocket. “I can hardly believe that foul-mouthed ballbreaker looks so damn fine in a dress. I like her! You think she’d marry me if I asked?”
“You knew who she was last night.” Matthew was not asking a question.
Nathaniel offered a grin. “A man don’t forget eyes like that.”
“You knew it was a woman…” Angry, Matthew rested his hands on the counter and leaned nearer.
“The second she braced my hand on her hip and I got a feel of just what was hiding under all those clothes, I suspected. When she started speakin’ soft, offerin’ comfort before she dug her bare hand right into me, I was certain. Then there’s the fact that while you were upstairs I watched her stitch up a nasty gash that prisoner ran through her belly.”