Angel In The Saloon (Brides of Glory Gulch) (8 page)

BOOK: Angel In The Saloon (Brides of Glory Gulch)
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And thus, Amelia was initiated at Conner’s Mercantile.
She allowed Mrs. Conner to just ramble on as she fingered the many interesting
goods they’d stocked. There were books and jewelry and dry goods. Home canned
foods, sealed safely in their glass jars lined several shelves. Amelia
particularly liked to touch the porcelain dolls, feeling their faces to try to
distinguish what they looked like, marveling at the softness of their gowns. All
in all, she decided it was a pretty standard emporium.

One item particularly caught her attention, though. It
felt like a figurine of a woman, apparently made of fine, smoothly glazed
porcelain. The lady stood about five inches tall on a round, wooden base. Amelia
spent extra time trying to observe every tiny detail of the miniature dress,
the lady’s facial features, and how her hair was pulled back upon her head.

Several other customers milled about the Mercantile,
so when she heard the footsteps of a gentleman come up behind her and stop, she
gave no particular thought to it.

“It’s musical,” Mrs. Conner said as she walked over to
her. “Here, let me wind it up for you. There’s a key on the bottom.” The woman
gingerly took the figurine from Amelia, and as she turned the key hidden on the
bottom the mechanism clicked. When she stopped winding it, she placed it on the
shelf and put Amelia’s hands on it. “And she twirls as the music plays.”

Amelia smiled with pleasure as she carefully held her
hands around the skirt of the tiny lady who slowly and gently raised and
twirled to the music.

“Her dress is pink.” Paul Strupel announced from his
position directly behind her.

She jumped at the sudden sound of his voice. “Paul.”

“I hope I didn’t startle you. I was just enjoying
myself by watching you enjoy yourself.” He chuckled. “Does that make any sense?”

“It makes perfect sense---I think.”

“Forgive me, Mr. Strupel. Is there something I could
help you with today?” Mrs. Conner gushed over Paul.  

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Conner. I was distracted by the town’s
newest member. Yes, I need my usual order of unlined, white paper. And I
thought I’d check to see if that sash saw blade has come in yet.”

“No. I’m sorry, it hasn’t   I am surprised, too. Usually
that company is much more efficient than this.  I’ll get your paper right
away.”

“It’s not your fault,” Paul replied. “As often as that
thing has broken down this past year and a half, I should just automatically
stock a couple extra blades. I just pray that the one I have doesn’t get caught
on a knothole or something. If you please, I would appreciate knowing
immediately when it comes in.”

“Of course.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you this morning,” Paul
said as he turned back to Amelia. “Whenever I get to spend a little time with
you in the morning, the rest of my day seems to go so much smoother.” He paused
a moment. “In fact, several things have gone wrong today. You know what, Amelia?
I think you’re a good luck charm.”

“Indeed?” She smiled at him.

“Are you enjoying your shopping?”

“Well, I’m not
shopping
. I’m just finger
shopping.”

“Finger shopping?” He smiled at her. “You never seemed
to run out of things that intrigued me.”

“Yes. You see, sometimes, when I feel nosy and want to
find out if I’m missing anything, I just put my fingers on everything in the
shop, and my snoopiness is satisfied.”

Paul laughed enthusiastically. Everything about her
mesmerized him, the way the light danced off her silky hair, her sweet smile,
her sense of humor, the tasteful clothes she wore, her bearing.

“I have your paper, Mr. Strupel. Will there be
anything else I could get for you?”

“Yes, now that you mention it, I could use a bottle of
indigo ink.” He took Amelia’s arm and gently escorted her down the aisle toward
the cash register.

“I’ll get that for you,” the merchant answered.

While she went to fetch the ink, he once again turned
his attention toward Amelia.

“Tell me Amelia, do you like horses?”

“Horses? Well, I’m shy around horses. They’re just so
big. And, of course, I can’t just take off on a gallop. I suppose I don’t care
much to be led around while riding alone either. It’s just too . . . Oh, what’s
the word I’m looking for here? Terrifying.” She laughed at herself, reminiscing
about the last time Molly and she went riding. She remembered screaming
something awful, and the horse was only walking. “I do enjoy riding double,
though.”

“This afternoon,” Paul said, “I have to take some
contracts up to the logging camp and I wondered if you’d like to ride along
with me. There’s something I’d like to show you along the way.”

Before she could answer him, Mrs. Conner interrupted
to conclude her business dealings with Paul. He paid his bill, took up his
parcels and escorted Amelia out of the shop.

“I hope you were finished with your finger shopping. I
guess I just assumed you were.”

“Yes, quite finished.” Amelia hoped the music box
would still be there when she could return to actually spend some money there.

“You didn’t answer me about the ride this afternoon.”

The thought of seeing Jeremiah Cowan thrilled Amelia. Should
she be using Paul’s sincere offer to see him, though? He was a sweet and
genuine person. She might be blind, but she could tell that both men were
attracted to her. Would her being in the same place at the same time with both
of them cause friction between them?

“I detect some hesitation. We could do this another
time, if you prefer.”

“No.” Amelia decided quickly and smiled confidently. “I
think I would like to go, but first, I’d like to ask Aunt Corrin what she
thinks about it. If she trusts you to keep me safe, I’ll accept your offer,
Paul,” Amelia smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.

Corrin Dannon, having put her complete trust in Paul
Strupel for years gave an overwhelming approval on the proposed excursion.

 “I’ll come by for you at three o’clock. If Corrin won’t
allow you to go, there will always be another time.” He paused a moment and
then added, “Amelia? I was wondering if when we return to town this evening,
would you care to join me for supper tonight at Sarah Jane’s?”

“I would enjoy the pleasure of your company at dinner
tonight. Thank you for the invitation.”

“Splendid!”

CHAPTER FIVE

 

Amelia sat on the porch when he arrived on horseback
that afternoon. His heart skipped a beat and he held his breath for a moment as
he drank in her dazzling beauty. He couldn’t keep himself from feeling this
way, almost like a schoolboy with a first-time crush on a girl, and it made him
feel self-conscious.

She had changed into a stylish, riding habit, the
obvious indication of the grace, gentleness, and beauty displayed by a lady of
gentility. A green, hip length waistcoat with an open collar and darker green
lapels was fitted snugly over a white hunting shirt with a black tie gracing
the collar around her delicate neck. He caught himself scrutinizing the curves
of her figure and his heart fluttered with excitement. If she could see the
expressions on his face, he probably would scared her off with the intensity of
his gaze

He rode up to the boardwalk and tied his horse to the
hitching post. “Hello, Amelia. Corrin must have given her approval. Are you ready?”

She nodded. “Ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.” She
gave him her hand and he led her to the horse.

“Amelia, this is Colorado.”  Having sensed her
apprehension, Paul thought it best to take his time with the introductions. “I
named him that because he was born on the same day Colorado became a state five
years ago. He’s a fine paint horse. That means it looks like he’s got splotches
of paint splattered all over him.” He took her hand and held it up for the
horse to sniff, and then placed it on Colorado’s head, making long strokes down
his face.

“Colorado, this is Amelia. She’s a nice lady who can’t
see you, so you have to be extra careful with her. She’s not a painted lady,
though.”

Amelia flung the back of her hand at him, hitting him
in the ribs.

“Ow!” He laughed, as if her gentle tap could actually
do him some harm.

“Well, you asked for it, you know.”

“Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself.” He took her
around to the horse’s side and let her touch his mane and run her hand down his
neck and shoulders and finally rub his chest. He was a proud, but gentle horse
and seemed to understand that he must be on his best behavior with this
particular rider.

Corrin must have been keeping her eyes out for her
niece, for she appeared in the doorway. “Are you getting ready to go?”

“Yes, Aunt Corrin. Thank you for allowing me to do
this.”

She waved her hand. “Pishaw. I’ve known Paul for over
twenty years. He’ll take good care of you.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he said, smiling.

She wagged a finger in front of him. “Besides, you
know I know a lot of burly men in this town, who could knock you out with just
one punch. So I know you’re going to be careful with her.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She grinned at him and then touched Amelia on the arm.
“Have fun, dear.”

Amelia placed her hand over her aunt’s and smiled. “I
will.”

Corrin returned to the saloon.

Paul helped Amelia into the saddle as gently as if she
were a precious piece of his mother’s fine porcelain that must be handled with
the utmost care. He hoisted himself up and sat directly behind her. He reached
his long arms around her and took up the reigns. They engulfed her, and he
delighted in being so close to her. Her hair smelled like the gentle perfume of
the soon-to-bloom lilac bush in his backyard.

They rode out of town and shortly began to ascend a
mighty mountain. Noticing how Amelia was gripping the saddle tightly, Paul made
sure to choose the gentlest path he could follow to make the trip less
frightening for her. After about thirty minutes of continuous climbing, the
terrain finally leveled.

“Do you want to gallop here in the meadow? We’d make
good time that way,” he teased.

“No! Thank you!”

Paul laughed and looked around her shoulder into her
face. She was smiling and he thought it very pretty.

Another ten minutes of easy riding found the two
talking about the sounds Amelia heard, the types of trees they passed, how
fresh and crisp the air was, and how much cooler it was the higher up into the
mountains they rode. Paul couldn’t help himself. He had to smile. He was sure
she was enjoying his company.

“Here it is,” he announced. “This is what I wanted to
show you.” Paul drew Colorado to a halt and sprang from the horse. With the
same agility he used to put Amelia on the horse, he helped her down, wrapping
one arm around her waist and using his other as a brace for her hand. Once on
the ground, he continued to hold her in his arms to give her a moment to steady
herself. Anyway, that’s what he told her.

He escorted her about twenty paces, then let go of her
and stepped away, leaving Amelia standing all alone in an unfamiliar place. Without
her cane, he was sure this kind of solitude would probably have frightened her,
but she didn’t seem bothered much.

“Now,” he said. “Tell me where you are.”

Amelia relaxed, and he could tell she allowed her
senses to take over. “The air is flowing differently here. We aren’t closed in
by the mountains like we were earlier.”

“That’s right. We’re in a meadow. What else do you
sense?”

“I smell flowers. There must be hundreds of them for
their fragrance to be so strong.”

“Try thousands. This is the only field like this for a
hundred miles. There’s just about every kind of mountain wildflower imaginable
growing here within about a square mile of meadow. Nobody knows why or how they
all got here, but they just keep on blooming all summer long, every year.”

Bending over and reaching toward the ground about
knee-high, Amelia felt for the silky flowers all around her. She impulsively
laid down on her back and inhaled deeply as a smile of delight lit up her face.
Not even the busy buzzing of bees and constant chattering of humming birds
seemed to bother her.

“I thought you’d like it here.” Paul sat down beside
her.

“Oh, I do! I do!” She sat up. “Paul, do you know the
names of these flowers? Would you please show them to me?”

“Sure.” He picked a small flower and placed it into
the palm of her hand. “This is a purple bachelor’s button. This one is a yellow
lady’s slipper. This one is an anemone, and here is some hawkweed.”

He continued one by one to pick the flowers and place
them in her hand for her to touch and sniff and familiarized herself with them.

Somehow, watching her delight in the simple beauty of
the flowers gave him deep pleasure. He wondered if God felt that way about him
sometimes. Ever since Paul had opened his eyes and his heart and accepted that
God existed, he often felt as if the heavenly Father smiled down on him in
pleasure. The more he learned about God, the bigger, yet more personal God
became to him.

BOOK: Angel In The Saloon (Brides of Glory Gulch)
10.1Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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