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Lily bit back a giggle. “And people talk about women being nosy.”

“Amen,” Daisy said and picked up her fork.

Lily’s curiosity rose to its highest point, but the dining room was not the place to ask Daisy for a more detailed report of what had really happened with that judge. There was more history, for sure, and it had to do with the Paradise—but Frank Calvin was a busybody.

The judge discreetly laid his newspaper on the table when he passed by, but he didn’t say a word to either woman. Still, Lily watched Daisy’s eyes focus on him until he was out the door. “Now, what were you saying?”

Daisy nodded toward several more people pushing their way into the hotel. “Not in here. I’ll tell you the whole story when we are away from listening ears. I don’t see any listings, but let’s walk around town and look for any empty buildings.”

“Good idea,” Lily said.

“But will you please act like you aren’t really interested when we peek inside the old hardware store?” Daisy asked. “When we return, we’ll tell the nosy Mr. Calvin that the preacher’s building won’t work.”

“And you’ll explain everything?”

“Of course.”

When they were finished eating, Daisy got to her feet and left the newspaper on the table.

They were halfway down the street when Daisy finally started talking.

“Wesley came through with one of the last cattle runs and then stopped by the Paradise on his way back home. He said he was a lawyer, out for an adventure, and it was time to settle down. I thought he was trying to impress me when he said he would probably soon be a judge, so I didn’t believe a word of it. ”

“Did he ever talk about Autrie when he was with you at the Paradise?” Lily asked, remembering a few of the tall tales men had told her when they were allowed to visit the brothel. “I just realized how much those two words are alike.”

“He mentioned being the judge of Anderson County. I didn’t even know that’s where Autrie is located.”

“The way you reacted when you saw him, I bet you thought about him a lot, though.”

They were right outside the general store when Lily nudged Daisy in the arm and said in a loud voice, “Hello, Alma. Nice to see you again.”

Alma stopped and smiled. “I didn’t catch your names last evening—and I need to apologize for that tacky remark I made.”

“I’m Lily and this is Daisy,” Lily said. “You do not owe us an apology. Actually, we’re pretty much in agreement with you when it comes to marriage.”

“Thank you for that, but I still shouldn’t have said that to two strangers.”

“Where are your sweet little girls?” Daisy asked.

“Thank you for asking about them, but I have to hurry to the general store. I’m out of flour, and Joshua wants a chocolate cake for supper. If the girls do a good job of dusting the church, he says they can have a slice.” Alma’s chin quivered as she rushed into the store.

“That was a close call,” Daisy said. “But you covered it well, and we know now that he didn’t whip those little girls.”

“I feel so sorry for her,” Lily whispered. “Being put down and living under a microscope like that hurts my heart.”

“Mine too. Maybe what we hope to do here will help her to stand up for herself,” Daisy said.

“That would be wonderful,” Lily said with a sigh. “Now that we’re alone, tell me what it was about the judge that made you remember him among all the others?”

“He said that if the situation was different, he would take me home with him. A woman—even a shady one—doesn’t forget those things.”

“Well,” Lily giggled, “I guess it’ll be legal if he signs the papers, won’t it?”

“That’s what I thought the minute I realized that Frank Calvin was talking about one of my old clients.” Daisy stopped in front of a store and peeked in the dirty window. “This will take a lot of elbow grease, but it would work for sure.”

“Plus, we wouldn’t have to rent or buy a house,” Lily agreed, but then she shook her head and shrugged.

“Why are you saying one thing and acting differently?”

“Look across the street,” Lily said. “Isn’t that Preacher Jones over there, talking to some other men?”

Daisy raised her voice. “I don’t know about this. Maybe we could start out with a smaller place.”

“I agree. This place is too big, and it’s too close to the saloon.” Lily looped her arm through Daisy’s, and together they walked on down the street.

“Do you think he heard us?” Daisy asked.

“Have no idea, but he could read our body language for sure,” Lily answered.

I’m so proud of you, Miz Raven whispered, so clearly that Lily glanced over her shoulder to see if the madam was right behind her.

They passed by a couple of other businesses and then stopped at the general store, pushed open the door, and went inside.

“Come right in,” a woman behind the counter said. “What can I do for y’all this morning? Don’t recall having seen you in Autrie before. Are you just traveling through?”

Daisy introduced them and then said, “We are here, hopefully, to put in a millinery and seamstress shop.”

“I’m Beulah,” the woman said, “and we could sure use a business like that. Y’all stayin’ at the Crockett?

I heard two women without husbands checked in last night.

Autrie eats up gossip like those hotel pancakes with maple syrup.

I only know of one property around these parts that’s standin’ empty, and y’all have about as much chance of buying it as a snowball’s chance in hell. ”

Lily smiled at Beulah’s language. Although first impressions might not always be right, she already liked this woman. “Why’s that?”

Beulah snarled as if she had gotten a whiff of something bad. Her expression and the look in her hazel eyes gave away her emotions immediately. Lily wondered whether the lady had ever played poker, and if so, whether she had ever won a game.

“It belongs to Preacher Jones,” she said and wiped her hands on the tail of her apron as if just saying his name had made them dirty.

“I take it that you and Mr. Jones are not good friends,” Daisy said.

“You got that right,” Beulah said. “My father died six months ago and left me this store—just like Alma’s daddy did two years ago.

Only, the law now says that I can own property myself, and it does not go to my husband.

That bill hadn’t passed yet when Alma’s father died, so she had to give her store and inheritance to her worthless excuse of a husband. ”

“And your husband?” Lily asked.

“He dragged me over to the courthouse to stand before Judge Martin and insisted I sign my inheritance all over to him, and that was a great deal more than just this store. When the judge told him that wasn’t legal anymore, he got on his horse and rode out of town.

Ten years I was married to that man and put up with his bullshit.

My father did me a big favor when he left me this store, and the law did me a bigger one when it said married woman could own property.

” Beulah stopped ranting and took a breath.

“Enough about that. We don’t have nearly as many women in Autrie as we do men, so when we get a chance to talk, we usually tell too much.

Now, what about y’all? I hear you are cousins, but you sure don’t look a thing alike. Where do you come from?”

“We are really best friends, but to avoid problems, we tell folks we are cousins,” Daisy told her.

“And we used to live in Spanish Fort. The good preacher man doesn’t need to know that we aren’t related, though.

He’s already looking down on us because we are traveling together without a male escort. ”

“He even invited us to his church so we could find a husband,” Lily said.

Beulah laughed and slapped her leg. “I love it. Cousins you are, then—but back to Joshua. There ain’t one thing good about that man, or the one who left me, either.

If y’all stick around we will have three independent women in Autrie.

If you happen to find a place to buy, go down to the wagon yard to get whatever you need to furnish it.

Elijah Maguire is a friend of mine, and he’s a sweet old guy who’ll give you a good deal.

Joshua is so money hungry that he sold everything in the store to Elijah for a lump sum.

Most of what he bought is still in his storage shed—beds, stoves, and even one of them fancy sewing machines that came out a few years back.

Alma’s daddy bought it, and then it just sat there.

No one in this town could afford the thing, but a lot of women sure coveted it. ”

“Thank you for that,” Lily said. “And it’s sure been nice visiting with you.”

“Got anywhere else to go?” Beulah asked.

“Not right now,” Daisy replied.

“Well, then, come on back here behind the counter and have a seat. I’ll pour us a glass of sweet tea ...” She lowered her voice. “The iceman came yesterday, so I have a block. I’ll chip away some of it and share for the company.”

“Can’t pass up a deal like that,” Daisy said and rounded the end of the counter to sit in one of the three ladder-back chairs.

“Give me a minute,” Beulah said. “Anyone comes in, just tell them to look around until I get back. Y’all want a little kick in your tea? I always take one in mine.”

“What is that?” Daisy asked.

“Just a splash of good whiskey—not that cheap stuff that the owner of the saloon passes off as liquor,” Beulah said with a twinkle in her eye.

“Sure, why not? I’m going to prowl a bit just to see what all we can buy from you when we get settled into our new shop,” Lily said.

“Help yourself, and I’ll be mighty glad for the business,” Beulah said.

Daisy stood up and joined Lily to check out the pots and pans, the grocery supplies, and even noticed that Beulah had fresh, homemade pies for sale on one shelf.

Lily leaned forward and sniffed a warm apple pie. “Let’s buy this one and take it up to our hotel room for a snack this evening.”

“Think we can eat two pies before they go bad?” Daisy picked up a chocolate cream along with the apple pie and carried them both to the counter.