Chapter 12

It was late Sunday night when Lew booked into a hotel in Kansas City. He planned to get a good night's sleep. Then, in the morning, he'd hire a car and drive out to where the widow lived and see what he could do for the impoverished family.

He had just picked up the phone to call room service, when there was a knock on the door. Replacing the receiver, he went to the door.

"Mr. Bugger, sir?" the young man asked, holding out a yellow envelope in his hands. At Lew's nod, the youth added: "Telegram, sir."

After closing the door, Lew tore open the envelope, wondering what could be so important for someone to send him a telegram.

"Trouble. Call Jake."

"Damn!" Lew muttered, and grabbed up the phone again. It only took a few minutes to get his call through and in another few seconds Jake was on the line.

"For shit's sake, Jake. What's wrong?" Lew asked, not knowing what to expect, but never expecting what Jake said in reply.

"I'm glad I caught you in time, Lew," Jake said, and went on to relate what had happened. "Whatever you do, don't go out to the widow. I never thought to tell Lil about your change in plans. And somehow or other, the people changed their minds and the police got involved. I got Ralph to get a small ad in the paper, advertising for a maid, giving Lil's address to correspond to. You see, when they questioned Lil, she got excited and told them she was supposed to hire a young maid for your wife and the southern girl was going to be it. Because she couldn't think of what else to say, she said that you were on your honeymoon and she was supposed to have the maid before your return. What a mess, huh?"

"Shit, Jake. Isn't my life screwed up enough? Well, see if you can get things straightened out while I'm down here. I'll see what I can come up with. Maybe if I just send an anonymous sum to the widow, it will soothe their egos and they'll drop their charges. I'll let you know what else I come up with whenever I come up with something," Lew said angrily and slammed the phone.

He had had such good intentions! He was going to help the family, then he was going to vacation from one place to another until he found a woman willing to look across the breakfast table at him for the rest of her life. Someone he would love and who would love him.

"Now this shit comes up and ruins everything!" he cursed, and called room service, ordering enough booze for a party.

While he waited for his spirits to arrive, he outlined an ad for the next day's paper. When the waiter arrived with his tray, he gave him the folded sheet and instructed him that it was to be called in to the local paper in the morning. He knew if he waited to do it himself, he'd chicken out.

For the rest of the evening, he drank himself into a stupor, passing out in his chair, where he slept until the morning.

On Tuesday morning, the hotel lobby was filled with girls, all applying to his ad: "Assignment for short duration. No experience necessary. Generous payment."

Lew interviewed them all and systematically sent each one away with a twenty in her greedy fist. He was thoroughly disgusted.

It seemed there wasn't a virgin in the whole city! And when the afternoon brought forth the same results, he was completely depressed.

Feeling frustrated, he hired a car and drove into the country. If he couldn't wait to find a wife in the normal way, he was damned if he was going to settle for someone else's leftovers!

However, the beauty of his surroundings soothed his nerves and he found himself thinking of Zelda and the words she had said to him. It gave his morale a boost. He'd place another ad, this time he'd word it differently. Maybe he'd have better luck.

Over a cup of coffee in his room. Lew read over his ad before calling it in. "Prim, young woman needed immediately to accompany gentleman to Illinois. Generous wages and benefits. Not interested in adventuresses. Apply Tower Hotel."

Lew was aware that if he wasn't the sexually experienced man that he was, that he wouldn't be so particular. Some of the girls hadn't been too bad looking, they might even have served his purpose. But it was the principle of the thing. Originally he'd thought it would take upwards of a year to find the woman he sought.

And just because he couldn't afford to take that much time, there was no reason for him to lower his standards. However, he'd about made up his mind that his task was going to be impossible and, if he couldn't find what he wanted, he'd settle for something less as long as she was decent and innocent.

He figured that, for a price, the woman would marry him after a determined length of time, with the understanding that at the end of that time, they would divorce. Then he'd search for his life-time mate.

The phone rang. "Yes," Lew said, and listened for a moment. Then, "Send one up each time one comes down," he instructed, and replaced the phone.

He studied his appearance in the mirror, looking at his hand-tailored suit, he decided he was quite distinguished looking, except for his busted nose, which he could do nothing about. He had felt that plastic surgery wouldn't have been for him.

It would have been like looking at a stranger in the mirror. Whoever he married would have to accept his face! However, he did know that the right kind of woman wouldn't mind his face. After all, he was a virile, masculine man and he was wealthy.

As the first knock came, he wished that this would be his lucky day. Quickly, he admitted the first applicant.

It seemed to take hours for Lew to interview all the applicants and then turn them all away. He was so fatigued that he could hardly eat his lunch. He almost dreaded the batch that he expected to appear after lunchtime.

He even was beginning to wish he hadn't advertised at all. He should have gone to another city.

He decided that if nothing turned up this afternoon, he would definitely move on and try his luck elsewhere. There had to be a decent young woman somewhere!

And then at one-fifty, he opened his door to the girl he knew he was going to make his wife! The thought hit him like a brick and he knew there would be no divorce!

Zelda had taught him that he had great potential in him. He would be patient and he'd teach his wife to love him and he would love her. It was as simple as that and the determination took him only a fraction of a second to come to.

The girl was of medium height, about twenty, and she had a crown of red hair that he could only describe as flaming glory! It fascinated him!

She had a lovely face and he couldn't have guessed at her figure since she was wearing a shapeless shift that concealed her body from his discerning eyes.

"Come in," Lew said, leading her to a comfortable chair. He could tell by the way she walked, and by the way she returned his gaze, that no man had ever possessed her. His kind of man could tell, without a doubt.

There was silence in the room as Lew also took a chair and continued to look with awe at her hair. He could picture himself spreading her flames across his belly. What a fire that would build! And then he realized he shouldn't be thinking those kind of thoughts.

That would come later and only if his wife was a willing partner to it according to Zelda's opinion.

The girl's cough brought him out of his trance and, for the first time in his life, Lew almost blushed with embarrassment! He hoped she hadn't been able to read his mind. And then he noticed that her cheeks were very pink also. He must have been staring for quite a while.

"I apologize, my dear. But your hair is breathtakingly beautiful. I've never seen hair that color," he said. He then forced himself to concentrate on the business at hand.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Lew Bugger. I live in Illinois. And, for reasons I cannot explain at the present, I need to return home with a legal wife for a few months. I should expect you to return with me, and play the part convincingly. In the fall, if you desire it, there could be a separation, with a settlement of ten thousand dollars."

"That's my offer in a nutshell," he said, and wondered why he'd said ten thousand when he'd planned to say one thousand.

He decided it wasn't important. She would be worth every penny of it and more!

"Ten thou-" she stammered. "I'm Belle Thomas. But I had no idea you had marriage in mind. I'm afraid I'm not interested in a husband. I guess I'm not suitable for the position," she said and appeared stunned at his offer.

Yet, her voice had remained cool and dignified, showing Lew that she had a great deal of self-control.

"Is it because of my face?" he asked.

"Of course not. I'm just definitely not in the market for marriage to any man," she said firmly.

Lew was shaken at the idea that this girl might slip through his fingers. Attempting to shake her up, and perhaps to force her hand, he said, "Miss Thomas! You came here knowing the position required you to accompany a man out of the state. Am I to believe that you're not the kind of woman interested in propriety, the conventions?"

"Certainly not! You misunderstood me! I naturally assumed that you had a family of some kind and that I would be needed in a servile capacity of some kind. As badly as I need the money, sir, I just can't see marrying for it," she said stiffly, and rose to her feet with every intention of leaving the room, and walking right out of Lew's life.

However, Lew was a master and was able to talk off the top of his head when need be. He was well aware that he could charm any woman on two feet, even with his face, if he put his mind to it, and now was going to be the test of his ability!

"Please, Miss Thomas," he said. "I've had a most trying week, and so far you are the only decent young woman that has qualified for the position! I am desperate! If I could somehow convince you that until a few days ago, I had no intention of taking a wife yet, would you reconsider. I assure you, this marriage would only be a temporary arrangement, and I'll even make you a vow. If you will publicly appear to be a normally affectionate wife, I will never violate your person! Believe me, you would have to beg me to make advances to you!" He spoke his piece convincingly, looking at her as though the idea of touching her body actually repelled him.

It wasn't until after the words were out of his mouth and said that it occurred to him what he had promised. He'd promised not to touch this woman that he wanted! If there was one thing about Lew that was for real, it was the fact that he was a man of his word.

If she accepted his proposition he'd keep his word! It didn't mean he wouldn't do all he could to make her beg him!

"I don't know," she whispered. Then she was silent before she asked, "Would you would you consider paying me in advance?" Her voice became a whisper.

"Are you engaged in any way with another man?" Lew asked with a bit of anger.

"No, sir," she said softly.

"Then you must need the money badly! I'll tell you what I'll do. Because I'm in a bind, I'll give you the money. I'll take a chance and trust you; as you will be trusting me. However, let me warn you, if for any reason you run out on me you'll find I can be quite unscrupulous! I would find you wherever you'd go and you'd pay dearly! I would not countenance being crossed, not even by someone as lovely as you!"

Shyly, Belle accepted the hand extended towards her and sealed their agreement. Lew then offered her tea; and while they waited for it to arrive, he took down all the vital details he would need.

An hour later, they arranged to meet at ten-thirty the following morning at the bank. Final arrangements would be ready at that time.

Nervously, Lew paced the floor at the home of the Justice of the Peace. So far everything had gone smoothly. But would she show up today? He had paid her the agreed money and they had applied for their license and had their blood tests.

Just this morning Lew had checked out of the hotel, wondering why he was so eager to change his status from bachelor and man about town to a legally married man, with no loving wife. Somehow, he knew it meant a great deal to him and he wondered if his unloving wife would ever become a loving one.

He also knew that if she didn't show up this morning his fury would be unmatched by any other groom in history!

And then he gave a sigh of relief! Belle opened the door and stepped into the room, wearing a white sheath dress under an inexpensive fur jacket. This time her glorious hair was neatly coiled at the nape of her neck.

One glance at her told Lew that she was the only woman he would ever want for the rest of his life! He could give no explanation, but he knew!

To impress the Justice, Lew gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek and motioned for him to start the ceremony.

It was as they were getting into the taxi a short while later that Lew noticed the shapeliness of her calves. For the first time he wondered what the rest of her looked like.

"Well," he mused, "there's plenty of time to find out, and I will find out! After all, she is my wife and I never promised not to look!"

Then they were on their way to the airport.