Lucas Blake stared into the last embers of his small cook fire as twilight surrendered to the deeper shadows of night. He'd near forgotten how quick day turned black before the moon 'n stars could give you an inklin' of what was about. Things that had been mostly second nature... Well now... He had to be think 'bout 'em. Two and a half years in a city were enough to dim his sense of smell, cloud his eyes and then damn near swallowed him up.
With Patch, the blue-black gelding hobbled in tall grass some ten feet away and the third-year colt another six-foot past that, he tried to get comfortable lyin' on the horsehair blanket with his slicker rolled and tied under his head. A meal of fresh rabbit and the smell of the coolin' night air added to the quiet, though not much helped with the ache from eight days in the saddle. After not sittin' one for any length of time durin' his spell in the city, it took no more than half a day for every muscle he hadn't used much to remind him of their whereabouts.
Didn't matter though, he was going home... And early at that.
The War with Mexico was coming to an end with more men dyin' from disease than battle. The certainty of the war back in '45 had J.D. sending him East. They had no dog in that fight. The fact that Lucas was back East 'for a bit more education' would temper any possible criticisms and if he caught on with the Taylors, might jist provide sum dividends. He'd done better than either of them had figured and truth be told, it was past time fer him to git.
J.D.s letter had gotten him in the door at Taylor & Sons, but it didn't take long before they saw his gift for numbers. Then things got movin' along a bit quicker than J.D. had figured. Luke had tried to play it off and for a time did, but Mr. Tucker, the Senior Accountant, saw he'd do somethin' that should take an hour in ten minutes, (and Luke had to force himself to take that long). The work steadily growed and it weren't long before he was checkin' others due diligence.
Not six months in and Dan Taylor, Mr. Taylors second son, met Luke outside the cramped boardin' house that took more 'n half his salary. The rope bed offered little comfort and the worn, wooden floor slept better; least it was clean. He took note when he saw his fathers favored messenger boy headin' his way.
"Evenin' Mr. Taylor."
There was little more than a half nod from the well-dressed man now peerin' at him through wire rimmed glasses.
"Tucker is accompanying my father for a two-week review with several of our client's books and their books. I want you to look at some of our own firm's records during the Senior Accountants absence. Total secrecy will be had."
"Yes sir."
And that was that. Again, the short nod and he was gone. That's the way it was done here in city. Nothin' much mattered other than a man's status. And now Lucas Blake was gitin' the chance to improve his.
It was less than six hours and after Lucas received the second set of books that he'd found a scheme to whittle down just a tad of profits over several of the larger, more detailed accounts at the end of each month. A week after finishing up the internal audit, they gave him a small office and his room at the boardin' house was nicely upgraded. And Mr. Tucker... He was horse whipped before takin' up residence in the local hoosgow fer near eighteen months.
Wasn't too long til Lucas started to like bein' called Mr. Blake. Soon after his promotion, he was allowed to attend the late afternoon discussions concernin' law and the fast-growin' country. The quiet politics that goes on behind closed doors weren't too far behind that. After several Sunday dinners at the Taylor's elegant home, it was Lucas that started travelin' with Mr. Taylor. More often than not, Lucas faded into the background and said little or nothin' during these times. Durin' their follow-up conversations that would often last 'til the wee hours of the mornin', Lucas's recall of facts and figures were the most impressive that Charles Taylor had ever seen.
Mr. Taylor started to treat Lucas better than well. He showed Luke some of the opportunities that a man of means had available to him. Music, fancy dinin' and some social events... At first Lucas would reluctantly attend when pestered to do so; In the beginnin' that is.
Things changed pretty quick again after he was introduced to the Diamond Club. Though not qualifyin' for membership, Lucas was allowed to attend by invite. Many business and political 'agreements' were often cobbled together at the Diamond, then finalized with no more than a handshake. And when a man needed some companionship, it was quietly made available.
Over time, Lucas learned of Mr. Taylors penchant for the much younger gals. Mr. Doyle, a lifelong family friend and confidant of the Taylors, liked his women heavy and 'Dee-mure' as he would often say, but then absolute whores when the time came for intimate pleasures. It was rumored that Robert, Mr. Taylors oldest son, liked watchin' others in the throes of passion without their knowledge. One evening, Luke overheard that that particular practice may have taken place inside Roberts own home. Lucas had suggested to the gossipin' man, with the tip of his secreted away skinning knife restin'under his chin, that such things shouldn't be said unless a man was certain and fer sure... And then only if he was ready to defend such statements.
The young man was gaining respect, and now, a bit of notoriety.
Daniel, Mr. Taylors second son, didn't dabble much at all with the ladies, preferrin' a good drink and more serious discussions with men. There'd been more than one night that he and Luke spent sharin' a drink while they jawed about the what ifs and what evers. After a few drinks, Daniel referred to these discussions as 'fee-loff-asee'.
It was at the Diamond that Lucas was introduced to Miss Molly, by none other than Mr. Charles Taylor hisself. The woman, somewhere in her thirties Luke figured, was both beautiful and well educated. Those that mattered treated her with admiration and respect. She'd often be at someone's shoulder durin' important events, smilin' softly and excusin' herself when the conversation turned to those things a woman had no need or part of.
Lucas Blake his own self liked the gals too, both socially and especially at the Diamond. He was more than pleased that some fancied him a bit. Standin' taller than most men and lean from the years of hard work, the young ladies at church or dinners and such, often blushed when he turned his pasture green eyes in their direction.
The 'shady ladies' at the Diamond made it pretty clear with their invitin' eyes and lingerin' touch that any intentions he might have would be more than welcomed. And truth be told, his aim were to enjoy as many of those intentions as he could figure.
His favored gal was Ada, a soft skinned 'saloon girl' with hair like a raven's wing. Her eyes weren't much different then her hair; a smokey like coal black that sometimes didn't do well hidin' facts. Those eyes reminded Luke of Linda, J.D.s youngest daughter. She'd be near marrin' age now. Luke never figured her as more than a load of trouble that kept J.D. on his tail most of the time... til now maybe.
Ada kept mostly out of the sun, shunnin' outside events and always wore some kind of dainty gloves. She was as close to Miss Molly as any of the girls Luke figured. She weren't there often though. When she was, she was fetchin' drinks and sometimes sharin' one. Luke enjoyed jist her company mostly, til Miss Molly put a bug in his ear.
"She favors you Lucas, but you should know there are other men that have taken notice too."
She brushed a little somethin' or other from his shoulder before her voice became lighter, damn near secretive.
"Miss Grace will be accompanying Charles on your upcoming business venture. She will need a chaperone of course. Ada might be able to make that trip under the right circumstances."
Didn't take more than the flicker of a cat's tail for the young man to make up his mind. Her company would be nice on the ten-day trip and Luke truly did enjoy Ada's company. He'd enjoy more than that, but Miss Molly said that weren't the situation. Payin' near what he'd make 'n a month when he first arrived were to be the cost.
Now Ada was older then Grace, who's purpose was to tend to Mr. Taylor. Ada, no more then a saloon girl now, were another matter. The thoughts that slipped through Lukes's mind were far more complicated than most might think.
Of course, the ladies traveled together, separate from their men. Mostly different cars on the train and jist close enough hotels when they arrived. The ladies took in the sights 'n shopped a little while the men tended business. Later in the evenin', a prearraigned meetin' would take place and would soon enough turn into the night's pleasure.
