Beatrice and the Beast, page 10
His flattery wasn’t lost on her and had this same situation happened in a restaurant in Chicago, she would have given the man short shrift. But in a land that was alien to her way of life and because most men she had met, were uncouth and uneducated, it was refreshing to meet a man who, on the outside at least, appeared to be gifted with both good manners and good taste in his appearance. This would probably be an opportunity to defy Frank Zelletta further. She would be able to take pleasure in revealing she had spent much of the night conversing with a gentleman instead of obeying his instructions like a compliant child.
‘Well, perhaps a few minutes while I finish my wine would be acceptable. But I beg you not to take my acceptance as anything more intimate than merely talk.’
‘I assure you madam, my motives are purely honourable and I simply crave the company, if only for a few minutes, of a well-educated and articulate lady as you clearly, are.’
‘Then I hope you won’t be disappointed sir, for you may be holding me in higher regard than my standing possibly merits.’
‘I’m usually a very good judge of character ma’am and simply hearing the few words that have so far, passed between us, convinces me you are indeed everything I have thus far given you credit for.’
She smiled bashfully as he pulled out the chair.
‘May I?’ He asked politely.
‘Please do.’
When he was comfortably seated, he caught the attention of the waitress and ordered a bottle of the only brand of wine they possessed, before turning his attention back to the girl.
Please allow me to introduce myself,’ he said with smile. ‘My real name is Mason Levine, but friends call me Mase. May I enquire as to your own name Miss ...?’
‘Mellowday,’ Beatrice Mellowday.’
‘I am truly honoured to have met you Miss Mellowday and please censure me if you believe I’m being too forward by asking why a charming young lady as you clearly are, is staying in a small out of the way place as this?’
I’m here for just one night. Simply passing through as it were.’
‘I see. I take it you aren’t travelling alone.’
‘No. My husband to be hired a man to escort me to southern Texas where he has a ranch.’
Levine looked shocked for a moment.
‘Forgive me Miss Mellowday, but that is one heck of a journey for two men to undertake let alone a man and dare I say it? A vulnerable and gentle woman as you.’
‘I assure you Mister Levine; my companion is a very strong and capable man. He will ensure I come to no harm and I feel perfectly safe under his guidance and protection.’
I sincerely hope you’re right about this man Miss Mellowday, for there are countless hazards to overcome and your journey will be fraught with danger. I do not wish to alarm you in any way, but unless your companion is some kind of super human being, I fear one man alone will be no match for what may be awaiting you on such a long and perilous journey. May I enquire as to the name of the man in whose hands you place so much trust and indeed your life?’
‘You have indeed instilled me with a certain amount of alarm Mister Levine. But even so, I am still willing to place my trust in Mister Zelletta.’
Levine pursed his lips and was unable to hide the surprise on his face.
‘Mister Zelletta? Would that be Frank Zelletta?’
‘Yes. I assume by your question, you know him.’
‘Not personally, but I know of him. They call him the Beast of Kansas because of his looks and size. I didn't think escorting ladies was his game. He is more suited to bounty hunting.’
Strangely, she found herself wanting to defend Frank against any disrespect, especially against his appearance.
‘I believe it is very disrespectful to call Mister Zelletta a beast simply because of injuries to his face whose prevention he had no control over.’
‘I agree wholeheartedly Miss Mellowday. I was simply repeating a term some people who have met him, use to describe the poor man. I certainly would not use it in such a derogatory way myself.’
Beatrice smiled and sipped the remainder of her wine.
I’m sure Mister Zelletta being who he is, would not appreciate being called a poor man.’
Levine grinned and without asking permission, poured more wine into her empty glass.
‘Let me replenish your glass Miss Mellowday,’ he said as he poured. ‘I hope I’m not being presumptuous in charging your glass, but in the few minutes we have left, it would be interesting to learn more about you, if only to give me something by which to remember such a lovely and charming lady.’
Beatrice coyly, turned her eyes downwards.
‘I have already lingered longer than I intended Mister Levine. I do declare, if I didn’t know better, I would think your motives for plying me with wine were a little suspect.’
‘Perish the thought madam. If I have any motives at all for my actions, they are simply to loosen your tongue that I may know a little more about someone so beautiful and intriguing.’
His adulation secretly, pleased her and she smiled brightly even though she was aware he may be using flattery to turn her head. So, after taking another sip from her wine glass, she responded to him as delicately as she knew how.
‘You are a very charming man Mister Levine and under different circumstances, I would be delighted to keep you company. But alas, after this evening, it is very unlikely we will meet again so there will be little advantage in me telling you more about myself.’
She failed to notice the fleeting scowl that passed across his face to be quickly replaced by his ever present and attractive smile.
‘You are right of course madam and I will be eternally grateful that for just a few small moments, I was able to enjoy the company of a lovely and bewitching young lady. I will remember the short time we spent together for a very long time.’
‘Oh, Mister Levine, you are a very eloquent speaker and I am sure you are capable of turning the heads of many a young lady should you so wish. I myself am tempted to tarry for longer than is prudent. But because Mister Zelletta has instructed me to retire to my room early and not engage in conversation with any unfamiliar men, I feel I should comply with his wishes and withdraw to my room forthwith.’
Levine’s face took on a dejected look.
‘I’m unsure if I should feel pride in your compliment or hurt in your assumption that I may be some kind of threat, he said sadly. ‘I’m at a loss as to why you allow a known ruffian like Frank Zelletta to instruct you on when you can and cannot go to your room and obey him as though he were your husband instead of a mere employee.’
She felt slightly disconcerted at his condemnation of both herself and Zelletta and she found herself unable to fully conceal her annoyance.
‘Despite what you or many other people think about him,’ she said. ‘I believe Mister Zelletta is an honourable man who knows far more about this part of the country than I do. Therefore, I must place my trust in his superior knowledge. His only motive for wanting me to go to my room early, is to keep me safe and because I value my safety, I am willing to comply with his wishes. In the short time I have known him he has on two occasions, defended my honour from dangerous ruffians, so I have no reason to doubt his commitment to my well-being.’
Levine remained silent for a moment before humbly responding.
‘Please forgive me Miss Mellowday. I have clearly done harm to your estimation of my character. But my justification was purely out of concern for you and your relationship with Mister Zelletta. However, now I see how highly you regard him and how much trust you place in his guardianship, I realize there is absolutely no need for my solicitude I recognize how anxious you are to retire to the safety of your room so I will delay you no longer.’
He stood and moved quickly to her side when she pushed back her chair and began to rise a little unsteadily to her feet. She realised after drinking more than she’d intended, the wine had gone to her head and she felt a little giddiness as her legs became unstable. Levine grasped her upper arm to steady her as unintentionally, she leaned into him.
‘Please allow me to escort you to your door Miss Mellowday,’ he said brightly. ‘I fear you have consumed a little too much wine and the fault is entirely mine. I should have realised a sweet young lady as you would have little capacity for alcohol and I do apologise for allowing you to drink so much.’
Her words were a little slurred when answering him.
‘You are a true gentleman Mister Levine,’ she mumbled.’ And I regret I was curt with you. For I truly believe you meant no harm by your remarks.’
He smiled to himself as he escorted her from the restaurant and despite her best efforts to walk in a stable manner, she constantly found herself leaning heavily into him, which gave him the encouragement to slip an arm around her slender waist and hold her closer to his body.
Some of the tables in the restaurant were still occupied and there were people in the lobby as well as the desk clerk, which suited Levine’s contrivance. The more people who saw him escorting the girl away from the restaurant and up the stairs with her obvious compliance, the better. Once he left her room, which would be much later if everything went to plan, she wouldn’t be able to deny she had invited him there should she decide to make a fuss about what had happened.
They reached her room and Beatrice fumbled in her reticule for the key.
‘Here allow me,’ he said as he slipped the bag from her wrist. He quickly found the key and inserted it into the lock before swinging the door wide.
‘You are very kind Mister Levine and most gallant to help me to my room. I will be quite alright now but I must thank you once again for your help and for a lovely evening.’
‘It would be a neglect of my reputation as a gentleman not to make sure you are safely ensconced in your room Miss Mellowday.’
She yelped suddenly when he grabbed her upper arm and gripped it tightly before he bungled her into the room and quickly closed the door behind them.
TWELVE
Zelletta poured his third whiskey from the bottle he’d ordered at the bar and which now stood on the table in front of him along with a small glass. He sat alone at a table in a corner of the saloon bar where he could survey the room without being disturbed. As his eyes scanned the crowded bar room and took in the many men lining the bar and seated at tables playing poker or simply drinking, his thoughts constantly turned to the girl, Beatrice. She irritated and annoyed the hell out of him and he couldn’t wait to get her off his hands. Yet since he’d left her in that restaurant, he’d had a feeling of emptiness in his gut as though something was missing from his life and he began to think, at twenty-eight, he should settle down. Maybe buy a few head of cattle and some land. Build a small ranch and find a woman to share it with. That last thought turned his mood sour. What decent woman would want him as a husband? His scarred and ugly face ensured there would be no love in his life, especially as he constantly tried to keep his distance from all women apart from whores. Of course, he had broken that rule with Beatrice Mellowday simply because she was another man’s woman who he would never see again once the job was done. More importantly though, he was getting paid very handsomely for his trouble, enough to give him a good start in the cattle business.
His reverie was interrupted when he became aware of a man bundling his way through the crowd and making his way purposefully toward his table. The man was staring hard at Zelletta and his eyes never wavered as he approached the big man’s table.
Frank knew him very well and quickly got to his feet when the man came to a halt in front of him. He was much older than Zelletta, probably in his early sixties, but he stood tall and straight and had the look of a gunfighter with the pistol he wore slung low and tied down on his thigh. His face was lined and weathered from too much time in the sun and his thin lips were set in a tight line as he eyed Zelletta. His lips parted and stretched into a wide grin when he regarded the younger man.
‘Frank Zelletta as I live and breathe,’ he said jovially. ‘Never thought I’d see you in a small town like Caldwell. It can only mean you trailed somebody here who’s on one of your wanted posters and I’ve a good idea who it is.’
‘Howdy Charlie,’ Frank replied. ‘Been a while. Never thought I’d see you again ever.’
‘I’m still capable of outliving a young whippersnapper like you sonny.’ Charlie responded. ‘Especially a man in your line of work.’
Zelletta extended his hand allowing the older man to grasp it firmly and shake it warmly.
‘My god, it’s damned good to see you again Frank. I was told you’d been killed in a shootout in Ellsworth a couple of months ago. I was on my way there to find out if it was true and look for your killers. You sure don’t look daid to me.’
‘I wasn’t dead last time I examined myself Charlie. Unless I’m a goddamned ghost. Anyhow, I ain’t been to Ellsworth for a couple o’ years.’
‘I’m damned relieved to hear it son. Any whiskey left in that bottle?’
Frank sat and pushed the bottle and glass toward his friend who pulled out a chair and sat opposite.
‘Should be a couple of shots left, use that glass if you’ve a mind. I’ve had as much as I’m gonna drink tonight.’
‘You ain’t gonna have a drink with your old friend?’
‘Old is a good description of you Charlie. But to answer your question, I need a clear head tomorrow. Got a long journey ahead and I need to get an early start, or as early as I can after concluding a bit of business. But that don’t mean I can’t sit and chew the fat with you for a while, I owe you a hell of a lot more than that.’
‘You don’t owe me a damned thing son. What was done was done out of compassion and I got me a good friend in the process. I’m surprised I ran into you here though Frank unless you’re after a fugitive. If you are, I figure I know who it is.’
‘You do?’
‘Yeah, Mase Levine. I saw him just now at the hotel. Had a pretty young woman with him who looked as though she had too much to drink. He was helping her up the stairs to the rooms. I guess he’s gonna get lucky as usual.’
‘Levine’s a goddamned rapist and killer. Luck ain’t got nothing to do with it. The bastard takes what he wants any way he can. What did the woman look like?’
‘She had dark hair and looked pretty as a picture in a green dress.’
Zelletta’s chair fell over and clattered to the floor as he leapt to his feet and many of the nearby drinkers looked around startled expecting a fight to break out between the two men. But Zelletta was already elbowing his way through the crowd and heading for the door. Charlie was astounded and sat immobile for a moment. But he quickly recovered and hurriedly followed in the wake of his friend.
In the hotel lobby, Zelletta glanced at the desk and seeing the clerk wasn’t there, wasted no time in looking for the spare key to Beatrice’s room and instead bounded up the stairs with Charlie not far behind. He came to halt outside the girl’s room and threw himself at the door. It shattered under the big man’s weight and fell inwards. Frank hadn’t expected the door to give so easily and fell into the room barely managing to stay on his feet. He recovered quickly just in time to see Levine springing to his feet leaving Beatrice who he’d been pinning to the bed, lying shocked and very distressed but fully clothed. Levine had a gun in his hand and was very quick as he levelled it at Frank who was still in the process of recovering his equilibrium.
‘You’re dead you bastard,’ yelled Levine as he began to squeeze the trigger. But that was as far as he got, because a bullet hole appeared in his chest and the sound of gunfire erupted from behind Zelletta. Levine slumped to the floor with his back against the bed and his gun hanging from lifeless fingers. Zelletta didn’t need to look to know he was dead and he didn’t need to turn and see who had shot him, but he did anyhow.
‘That’s twice you saved my life Charlie,’ he growled. ‘It’s getting’ to become a habit.’
‘Yeah, well if you keep forgetting what I taught you about using caution, you ain’t gonna live much longer. Why the hell didn’t you think before crashing that door down?’
‘That’s the first time since we went our separate ways, I ever done anything as reckless as that. It’s her,’ he nodded at the bed where Beatrice was staring through terrified eyes at the dead man on the floor. ‘She’s got inside my damned head. All I could think of was saving her from whatever that bastard was doing. I didn’t even stop to think. I just wanted to get in this damned room and get my hands on him.’
Charlie took a good look at the woman.
‘Well whoever she is Frank, you’d better get her outa this room and give her drink of something. She looks pretty shook up to me.’
Zelletta gently lifted Beatrice into his arms where she wrapped her own arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder like a frightened child. As soon as she was safe and snug in his powerful arms, she began to sob violently with huge tears soaking his shirt. He turned to leave the room and carry her down to the lobby, when hurried footsteps were heard coming up the stairs and Zelletta was confronted by two men - one the town marshal and the other his deputy.
Charlie, who had exited the room behind Frank was the first to speak.
‘There’s a dead man in there marshal. He was molesting this man’s lady and was about to shoot him when her man burst in to save her.’
The marshal regarded the sobbing woman in Zelletta’s arms and the broken door. Then he took a look at the dead man with his gun still in his hand.
‘Seems pretty clear cut to me,’ he said casually. ‘Jesse, go and get the undertaker, we’ll take the cost of his burial and the door out of whatever he’s got on him. He looks well-heeled to me so when we find out where he was staying, we can donate what we make on his possessions to the town.’
‘He’s got a price on his head Marshal. Wanted dead or alive for murder and rape. You might as well donate that to the town as well.’
