Page 39 of The Gilded Lady (The Gilded West #3)

She wanted to cry. She had cried but only for a little while, not nearly long enough to quench the burning pain he’d left in her chest. The tears had dried up, leaving her with an emptiness that she didn’t know how to handle.

She shouldn’t feel this bereft. They’d never agreed to any sort of future.

In fact, he’d made it very clear before they’d even started that a future wasn’t something they could even consider.

Her brain knew that, but her heart did not. Her heart wanted him.

She squeezed her eyes shut and pulled the pillow over her head when she heard her front door open. Able’s deep voice was muffled through the wall and the down of her pillow. She let out the breath she’d been holding when her door shut and Able’s heavier tread took him to her sofa. Zane was gone.

For some reason, that brought on a fresh wave of tears.

She gritted her teeth in an attempt to hold them back, but a few escaped to run down her face.

She hated what had happened to Zane. The truth of the matter was that she didn’t know what it felt like to give your heart to someone only to have them turn on you, but she did know a little about how he felt.

Her own family had given her to Justin. Didn’t Zane see how alike they were?

Didn’t he realize that if anyone could understand him that it was her?

It wouldn’t matter if he did know those things.

She knew it as soon as the questions had floated through her mind.

He didn’t really think that she was like Christine, so he didn’t care if Glory would be able to understand.

He thought that love wasn’t binding, and she didn’t know how they were going to overcome that.

He thought that when things got rough, she’d leave and go looking for greener pastures.

Isn’t that exactly what he had just done to her?

He’d been fine to flirt and tease, but the moment things had gone deeper…

he’d fled. If he didn’t think love would last, then he wouldn’t be around long.

Even if she could convince him to stay now, something would drive him away later.

She’d been right about them from the beginning. He was the wind, and she was rooted firmly in the ground. Shame on her for forgetting that.

She tossed the pillow across the room because it smelled like him.

Everything smelled like him. Even her skin.

Wiping any lingering tears from her eyes, she rose and grabbed her dressing gown.

She’d make it through the day, God knows that she’d made it through worse.

A long hot soak in the tub would help, and then she’d have to figure out how to avoid Zane for… well…forever.

A lump welled in her throat, forcing her to swallow it down. Somehow she didn’t think that her usual work ethic and diligence was going to get her through this.

She was right. The day passed in a fog. Mercifully, the sharp pain of their argument had gone to be replaced by a dull ache.

It was compounded by the fact that the house itself had changed seemingly overnight.

A hush had fallen over the place. Business was slow because a few of the girls had left with Sally for a short holiday.

Glory had encouraged the trip knowing they’d be safer there than anywhere near Justin.

It was as if everyone was simply waiting.

Able kept vigil at the front door but made frequent trips through the house every hour.

Penelope polished the bar so much she’d likely rub a hole in the wood if she kept it up.

And Glory paced. It’s all she could do. She went from window to window, each time thinking that she might catch sight of Justin.

But there was only the usual Helena traffic.

If she was honest, she was also hoping to catch a glimpse of Zane. She heard his voice once midmorning when he’d been out in the courtyard talking with his men, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to go see him. What was there to say anyway?

He didn’t believe in them.

Finally night fell and they shut down the house.

Able followed her to her room, but she couldn’t ask him if he’d switched with Zane.

She couldn’t bear to hear it. Instead, she’d bade him good night and fallen into her bed early.

She was exhausted and emotionally drained. This was one day she was happy to end.

Zane awoke with a start. For a moment he thought he might have had that damned dream again, but then he heard a voice.

A man yelled something indistinct from the roof.

His heart pounded as he pushed up off Glory’s sofa and ran to the window that overlooked the front of the house.

Nothing was out of place. Everything looked normal.

He frowned and wondered if he’d imagined things.

A quick glance toward her door confirmed that Glory hadn’t been disturbed.

He tried to ignore the almost painful squeeze of his chest. He probably should’ve asked Able for his room back, but he hadn’t been able to bear the thought of not being here with her.

If something happened and he wasn’t here to protect her, he knew he’d never be able to live with that.

In the end he hadn’t asked, and when he’d arrived to take Able’s place the man hadn’t said anything to him, making Zane think that Glory hadn’t told him what had happened.

The faint scent of wood smoke stung his nostrils. Dubose? Another shout broke through the silence. Someone yelled, “Fire!”

Dammit. He grabbed his holster and strapped his gun around his waist as he rushed to her room. He knocked, but threw it open to see her sitting up in bed, sleepy but alarmed.

“There’s a fire. We have to go.”

She was already moving. “I heard someone yell. Do you think he’s here?”

“It’s possible.” Zane rushed to her armoire and pulled out the first garment he grabbed.

Pulling it over her head, he quickly did up some of the buttons in back.

“Get your shoes on.” He rushed back into the parlor and shoved his feet into his boots, not taking the time to lace them up.

When he finished, she ran into the parlor.

“Go downstairs. I want you outside,” he said.

“I have to make sure everyone knows!” She shouted back over her shoulder as she made for the door.

He followed her and they both pounded on every door on the third floor, shouting for people to get out.

There was a window at the end of the hallway and he could see thick clouds of smoke floating past it, which spurred him to move faster.

He had no idea where the fire had been started or how long they had to get out of the building.

Once every third-floor occupant had been accounted for, he followed the group of women down the stairs to the second floor. Glory tried to break from the crowd to start knocking on those doors, but he grabbed her arms to stop her.

“I have to go warn them!” she shouted.

“I’ll do it. Get the women outside and grab who you find on the first floor.”

She looked down the hallway and then back at him.

Her eyes were bright with fear. He hadn’t been thinking past his next move, but he suddenly realized that he had no idea how this scenario would end.

He’d been inside her only the night before, and then he’d foolishly pushed her away.

Now this could very well be the last time he touched her.

He pulled her close and tightened his arms around her, burying his nose in her hair one more time.

The scent of roses was only barely discernible over the smell of smoke.

To his amazement, she hugged him back, her small hands tightening in his shirt.

When he pulled back, he realized smoke was coming in through the open window at the end of the hallway.

He pressed a quick kiss to her mouth. “I love you, Glory.” If he never saw her again, he wanted her to know that. “Go!”

She nodded and turned back to continue herding the women down the stairs. The night was filled with cries of panic. He ran down the hall, pounding on doors while sending up a prayer that Glory got out safely.

The next few minutes were a blur of activity.

The servants who lived on the second floor were already evacuating, so he helped the last ones out and hurried down the back stairway.

He wasn’t prepared for what he saw. Out the first-floor windows that looked out over the courtyard, he saw that the boardinghouse was engulfed in a blaze.

He was glad they’d had the foresight to close it down.

At least everyone who lived there was safe at the Jameson ranch.

Except for Able who had stayed in Zane’s old room on the second floor, but that room had been empty when he’d opened the door to warn everyone.

The kitchen area was clear of people so he made his way through the hallway toward the front. For some reason there was smoke here and it appeared to be getting heavier. He inhaled and coughed when it burned his nose and chest. There must be a second fire somewhere, but he couldn’t seem to find it.