Episode 78
Limited Lodgings
The train moved on west for El Paso leaving the four newcomers and their heap of baggage behind. The curiosity of the locals was sated, and they returned to whatever was occupying them before the train’s arrival. All but a gaggle of small boys who stared openly at the queerly dressed strangers until a scowl from the subedar sent them running.
Arabella made an attempt at talking her father into a day of rest after traveling halfway around the world. Lord Huntoun was having none of it.
“There are many items to be seen to before I lay my head down, Pansy,” he insisted. “This freight must be secured, and I’ll need to look to cartage to see us to the site. The subedar and I have a job of work to do.”
“You don’t even know where the site is located, Father,” she said. “This is a rather large country, you are aware.”
“More than aware,” he replied, not without affection. “I suggest that Geoffrey and yourself find us rooms at the local hostelry. And perhaps inquire as to where I might find this Thaddeus Jones as he’s the one who made the initial find.”
“If you promise to join us before evening,” she said. “You need to eat something and spend at least one night on a bed that’s not moving under you.”
“You have my word,” Lord Huntoun said before returning to the cargo shed and his inventory of crates.
“I will see that the sahib does as you request, memsahib,” Rahul said with a bow of his head and joined her father.
“It appears to be just you and I, then,” Geoffrey said and offered his arm.
“Then try to keep up.” Arabella brushed past him to step from the station platform to a plank walkway that led to the town.
* * *
As they were readily informed by the first passerby they questioned, the only lodgings available in Eagle Flat were the rooms on the second floor of the Silk Hat. Arabella and Geoffrey stepped into the dim interior and allowed their eyes to acclimate after their walk from the station under the Texas sun. Their sense of smell needed no such adjustment as they were assailed by the stink of stale beer and staler inhabitants. A fug of tobacco smoke hung in the air, trapped against the planks of the low ceiling.
One table was occupied by four men playing some kind of card game while a fifth man stood watching, a clay pipe clamped in his teeth. Two more men sat in mumbled conversation at a second table. In the greater gloom near the back of the long room sat three women. One figure leaned on the bar stand as though holding it in place.
“Only let rooms in town,” said the barkeep who also served as landlord. He ignored Arabella to speak only to Geoffrey. “You want to see the rooms?”
“I’m certain they’re every but as horrid as we can imagine,” Arabella said. “We’ll need three rooms.”
“Only got four rooms and two of them is occupied,” the barkeep said, pointing with a filthy bar rag. “The girls need some place to ply their trade.”
Arabella and Geoffrey turned to follow his indication to where the trio of women sat at a table near the foot of the stairs that led to the second floor. Two white girls and light-skinned negress wearing shopworn dresses that left their arms bare and showed off a generous display of bosom. They returned the gaze of the newcomers with blank expressions. The negress managed a half-hearted wink meant for Geoffrey that made his face color.
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