Chapter 3
A horde of butterflies seemed to be banging into each other in Jude’s stomach as he paced nervously, waiting for the stage to come in. He was excited. It wouldn’t be long now before the Pink Palace would be legally his. Hell, the woman might be on her way back home by the evening stage.
As he continued to pace, he suddenly heard the galloping of horses’ hooves and turned toward the sound. The dirt flew while the stage came clattering down the street and then slowed to a stop. Jude quickly reached for the handle to open the door and eagerly looked at each woman as they stepped down.
Oh, my God, he thought, she isn’t here!
“Rattlesnake, what the hell did you do with the Boston lady? Didn’t she make this stage?”
“She’s here.” He nodded toward a disheveled woman who was frantica
