—Where’s that?
Woolly pointed to the end of the oval.
—Up the steps and through the blue door.
—I’m going to get him. In the meantime, can you keep an eye on Billy?
—Of course, said Woolly.
Emmett held Woolly’s gaze for a moment to stress the importance of what he’d just asked. Woolly turned to Billy.
—Emmett’s going to go get Duchess, Billy. So you and I have to keep an eye on each other. Okay?
—Okay, Woolly.
Woolly turned back to Emmett.
—See?
—All right, said Emmett with a smile. Just don’t go anywhere.
Woolly gestured to the arena.
—Why would we?
Climbing behind Woolly, Emmett made his way around the center aisle to the steps at the top of the oval.
Emmett wasn’t one for circuses. He wasn’t one for magic shows or rodeos. He hadn’t even liked going to the football games at his high school, which were attended by nearly everyone in town. He’d simply never taken to the idea of sitting in a crowd to watch someone do something more interesting than what you were doing yourself. So when he began climbing the steps and he heard the double crack of toy pistols and a cheer from the crowd, he didn’t bother looking back. And when he opened the blue door at the top of the steps and two more cracks of the pistol were followed by even louder cheers, he didn’t look back then either.
If he had looked back, what Emmett would have seen was the Sutter sisters riding in opposite directions with their six-shooters drawn. As the two passed each other, he would have seen them take aim and shoot the hats from each other’s heads. As the two passed a second time, he would have seen them shoot the shirts off their backs—revealing bare midriffs and lacy bras, one black, one white. And if he had waited just a few minutes more before stepping through the door, he would have seen the Sutter sisters firing their pistols in rapid succession until both of them were galloping on the backs of their horses as naked as Lady Godiva.
* * *
? ? ?
When the door at the top of the steps swung shut behind him, Emmett found himself at the end of a long, narrow hallway on either side of which were six doors, all of them closed. As Emmett walked its length, the muffled cheers of the crowd began to recede and he could hear a piece of classical music being played on a piano. It was coming from behind the door at the end of the hallway—a door that was illustrated with the large insignia of a bell like the one that was used by the phone company. When he put his hand on the knob, the classical piece slowed and then seamlessly transitioned into a saloon-style rag.
Opening the door, Emmett stood on the threshold of a large, luxurious lounge. Composed of at least four separate sitting areas, the room had couches and chairs upholstered in rich, dark fabrics. On the side tables were lamps with tasseled shades, and on the walls were oil paintings of ships. Stretched out on two facing couches, wearing nothing but delicate shifts, were a redhead and brunette, both smoking pungent cigarettes. While at the back of the room, near an elaborately carved bar, a blonde in a silk wrap leaned against the piano, tapping her fingers in time to the music.
Almost every element of the scene took Emmett by surprise: the plush furniture, the oil paintings, the scantily clad women. But nothing took him by more surprise than the fact that the person playing the piano was Duchess—wearing a crisp white shirt and a fedora tilted back on his head.
When the blonde at the piano looked to see who had come through the door, Duchess followed her gaze. Seeing Emmett, he ran his fingers once down the length of the keyboard, pounded a final chord, and leapt to his feet with a generous grin.
—Emmett!
The three women looked at Duchess.
—Do you know him? asked the blonde in an almost childlike voice.
—This is the guy I was telling you about!
The three women all turned their gazes back on Emmett.
—You mean the one from North Dakota?
—Nebraska, corrected the brunette.
The redhead lazily pointed her cigarette at Emmett with an expression of sudden understanding.
—The one who loaned you the car.
—Exactly, said Duchess.
The women all smiled at Emmett in recognition of his generosity.
Striding across the room, Duchess took Emmett by the arms.
—I can’t believe you’re here. Just this morning, Woolly and I were lamenting your absence and counting the days until we’d see you again. But wait! Where are my manners?
Slipping an arm over Emmett’s shoulder, Duchess led him toward the women.
—Let me introduce you to my three fairy godmothers. Here on my left, we have Helen. The second one in history to launch a thousand ships.