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anything about this.”
    â€œNeither do we!” a voice called from the doorway.
    Belle swiveled around. She saw two diminutive women, obviously identical twins, standing in the open doorway. They looked as if they had stepped off the pages of Godey’s Lady’s Book or out of a Parisian dressmaker’s shop that catered to nobility. Belle had never seen such stunning gowns made of luxurious silk fabric. One lady wore dark green while the other wore pale blue in the latest style with the apron effect that was pulled into a small bustle in back.
    She wasn’t sure of their age, but perhaps about seventy was right. They were slim, as if they hadn’t eaten well in some time. They had swept their silver hair into thick chignons away from beautiful faces. Bright, inquisitive, violet eyes focused intently on her.
    â€œLadies, welcome.” Mercy hurried forward to kiss the back of one gloved hand and then the other. “Miz Elmira and Miss Lamira, I’d like to introduce you to Texas Belle Thompson.”
    â€œPleased to meet you,” Elmira said. “Are you the famous bounty hunter?”
    â€œWhose handsome father saved countless lives from outlaws?” Lamira asked.
    â€œI don’t know how famous or how many lives were saved, but yes, I’m a bounty hunter.” Belle liked them, but couldn’t imagine why two elegant ladies would pull up stakes and move to the Bend. Maybe they were simply adventurous. “You’re new to town, aren’t you?”
    They both tittered coquettishly, looking like mischievous Southern Belles.
    â€œMiz Elmira is Temperance Tempest’s grandmother. Miss Lamira is her great-aunt,” Mercy explained.
    â€œWe came here to make the crimson gown Mercy will use in his portrait of our darling,” Elmira said.
    â€œAnd we stayed to open our own dressmaker’s shop,” Lamira added.
    â€œWe’re from Jefferson.” Elmira pointed east. “Our city was once the largest inland port in Texas with riverboats coming all the way from New Orleans.”
    â€œWhen we were young, we had so much fun!” Lamira clasped her hands. “Kaleidoscope music. Dangerous gamblers. Handsome ship captains. Parisian fashions. Parties. Dances. And the wonderful Queen Mab Festival.”
    â€œPlease do not let anyone from New Orleans convince you that their Mardi Gras is better than our Queen Mab Festival because it is not true,” Elmira said.
    â€œAt least it wasn’t true.” Lamira touched a fingertip to the corner of her eye as if to hold back tears. “The U.S. Corps of Engineers ruined our city. They dynamited the ancient Red River Raft to leave Jefferson high and dry. Without deep water, riverboats can no longer reach us.”
    â€œWe were left to pick up the broken pieces of our lives,” Elmira said. “And we just limped along.”
    â€œSo you came to the Bend to start over?” Belle asked.
    â€œYes,” Elmira agreed. “It’s on the edge of civilization. It’s vibrant with life. It makes all things seem possible.”
    â€œAnd it’s got nothing the government wants to destroy,” Lamira said.
    â€œYet,” Elmira added.
    â€œI’d never thought of Delaware Bend in that way,” Belle said.
    â€œTempest inspired us.” Lamira smiled. “She shook off the roots of the past and grasped the future.”
    â€œShe’s quite famous, you know,” Elmira said.
    â€œYes, I do know,” Belle agreed. “I imagine that she’s an inspiration to other women to take up the cause of temperance.”
    â€œNot me,” Lamira said. “I do like a little hot toddy of an evening.”
    â€œSometimes they share one with me,” Mercy added.
    â€œWe do whenever we can lure you away from the Red River Saloon, you naughty man.” Elmira winked at him.
    â€œNot often enough,” Mercy said. “It’s hard to tempt you away from