Page 32 of A Bride for Brodie

“Bets please, gentlemen.”

Mr. Grey was first, since he’d made the opening bet.

The bet got to Lottie. She looked around the table. Everyone was betting conservatively. She pushed all her chips into the pot. “All in.”

Every man at the table, including Flannery, widened their eyes and, one by one, threw their cards down.

Lottie also threw her cards, face down, into the middle.

“I want to see if she had it.” Mr. Grey reached for Lottie’s cards.

Jake pulled a Derringer from his pocket.

This was unexpected. Most tables she played at the players weren’t openly armed.

Flannery narrowed his eyes at Mr. Grey. “Those are not the rules of the game. If you touch those cards, Joey will carry your body out the door and dump you in the street.”

Mr. Grey visibly swallowed and pulled his hand back. “No woman is that good. I just wanted to see.”

“She’s obviously better than you. She took your money.” Jake put the gun back in his vest pocket. He looked at Lottie and dipped his head. “Well played, my dear. Very well played.”

This was unexpected. Not only did Jake defend her, but he complimented her. Was it honestly said or a ploy to knock her off her game? She wouldn’t let it bother her. Either way, her play would be consistent with her read of the table at each hand.

Approximately four hours later, just after one o’clock in the morning, Lottie called a halt to the game.

Jake was sweaty and his face drawn. He looked tired. “My dear, Mrs. Campbell, why would you stop the game when it was just getting interesting?”

The other men nodded, though she saw they looked tired and discouraged.

She was sure none of them had ever been beaten so badly and certainly not by a woman.

“I have enough to pay off Brodie’s debt, including your ridiculous interest.” She placed her stack of chips and money just ahead of her on the table, but not far enough forward to be considered a bet. “There is three-thousand dollars.”

“Ah, but Brodie only owes me two.”

“The additional thousand repays your stake for my place at the table. I’m returning those as well. We are even, Mr. Flannery.”

Jake leaned forward and placed his hands on the table. “You might have paid for Brodie, but you haven’t paid for Ross. That debt can’t be erased with money; he can only pay it in blood.” He narrowed his eyes. “I’m afraid you will remain my guest until Brodie brings Ross to settle the debt. And hewillsettle the debt.” He twisted in his chair. “Joey. Return Mrs. Campbell to room three.” He turned back to face Lottie. “I wouldn’t want you to escape before Brodie shows up."

Joey walked around the table and stood behind Lottie’s chair. “Mrs. Campbell, please come with me.”

She stood, shoving her chair backwards with enough force to strike Joey’s legs. “This hasn’t ended,Mr.Flannery. Not by any means.” She looked around the table and met each man’s eyes. “You are all witnesses that I paid my husband’s debt. Jake even said as much.”

“But I’m afraid it has ended for you, Mrs. Campbell.” Jake waved an arm, dismissing her.

Joey took her by an arm and led her to the stairs.

* * *

Lottie saton the bed in the small room for at least half-an-hour. The room was hardly bigger than the closets in the Haynes house where she’d worked. She sat on the bed because there was no chair. Just the bed and a dresser with a pitcher and basin on top. They mounted three pegs on the same wall as the door.

She eyed the pitcher. Then smiled and wondered why it had taken her so long to think of the solution.

Lottie moved the pitcher so she could grab it at a moment’s notice.

Suddenly, a knock sounded.

“Mrs. Campbell, I’m coming in.” Joey said from the other side.