The Measure of a Lady by Deeanne Gist Read Free Book Online

the crest of a hill, a large glass-encased structure winked in the sunlight.
    ‘‘What’s that?’’
    ‘‘My hothouse.’’
    ‘‘Why, it’s nicer than any building in all of San Francisco.’’
    ‘‘Just about.’’ He turned to go, but the boy climbed up the slope, pushed open the door, and went inside, his lanky form moving down the window-lined aisles.
    ‘‘What’s wrong with your plants?’’ he asked.
    Leaning against the doorframe, Johnnie inhaled the loamy smell of closed-in soil and plants, then sighed. ‘‘I don’t know. I’m really good at surveying and design, but the only thing I know about trees and shrubs is what I’ve read. So far, I’m not having much luck.’’
    The boy bent over and stuck his finger into the soil of a struggling Garrya elliptica . ‘‘Rachel would have a fit if she saw this. Nothing makes her madder than somebody killing their trees.’’
    Johnnie stiffened. ‘‘I’m not killing them; they’re dying all on their own. I don’t know what’s wrong with them.’’
    ‘‘Rachel would. ’Course, her specialty is bugs, but she knows an awful lot about trees, too. Can’t say what she knows about bushes, though.’’
    ‘‘Bugs? Her specialty is bugs ?’’
    Wiping his finger against his pant leg, Michael walked back out of the greenhouse. ‘‘Yeah. But Pa made her leave her collection back home. Said he wasn’t carting no trunk full of dead bugs clear around the Horn. She cried for days. We still don’t mention it in front of her.’’
    A slow smile tugged at the corners of Johnnie’s mouth. He’d not realized the boy had such a dry sense of humor. ‘‘Really? Well, what do you know about that? I collect wild beasts. Of course, I had to leave mine back home, too. Took up too much room in the wagon.’’
    Michael looked at him a moment before he let out a bark. ‘‘You’re fooling me, Mr. Parker. You don’t have no wild animal collection.’’ He sobered. ‘‘Do you?’’
    Johnnie pushed himself away from the door. ‘‘No more than some female has a collection of dead bugs. Come on, now. I’m paying you to help me bulk up the edges of that pond, not jaw all day.’’

chapter 4
    R achel stood just inside the entry of the City Hotel banging on a frying pan with a large metal spoon. ‘‘Attention, gentlemen. The City Hotel is now closed. Please gather your things and exit the building in an orderly manner, if you will.’’
    Mr. Parker and Michael had left half an hour earlier or she’d have had them clear the place out. As it was, she had no choice but to do it herself.
    There were a few men at the bar and several more circling the gaming tables.
    Soda rushed to her. ‘‘Now, missy, you cain’t jus’ be kickin’ the boys out like this without no kinda warnin’. Why don’t we waits fer Mr. Johnnie to comes back and let him handle the fellers?’’
    ‘‘I haven’t time to wait, Mr. Soda. I have a job to do and I intend to do it.’’
    An unkempt man with gray whiskers frowned at her. ‘‘I rent this here table from Parker. You cain’t jus’ up and close down my business.’’
    ‘‘Watch yer tone, Lambert,’’ the man beside him said. ‘‘That’s a sunbonnet yer talkin’ to.’’
    Rachel awarded her scruffy defender with a smile.
    The man running the table scowled, then moderated his tone.
    ‘‘Does Johnnie know about this, miss?’’
    ‘‘Of course he knows,’’ she replied. ‘‘I’m sorry he neglected to tell you, but we’ll be closing down every day between breakfast and supper. Now off you go.’’
    She looked at the men, but no one moved. She rapped on the skillet. ‘‘You heard me. Time to go.’’
    Those seemed to be the magic words. Within a few minutes, she’d closed the door behind the last customer.
    ‘‘Come along, Lissa,’’ she called. ‘‘All’s safe now.’’
    Lissa entered the room, a pouty look about her mouth.
    ‘‘Mr. Soda,’’ Rachel said, ‘‘we are going to need