Charlene Sands (5 page)

“Are you saying I don’t know how to ride, Mr. Cable?”

“No, no. What I’m saying is that you…well, yes, I suppose I am. A riding lesson is just what you probably need.”

“Ha!” Patricia’s voice rose to an uneven pitch. “I’ll have you know that I was trained by the most prestigious stable in all of Boston. The groomsman said I had a knack with horses.”

Jethro laughed right in her face. “Is that so?”

“Yes, that is so.” Patricia removed her fancy suede riding gloves and tapped them into her hand. “Don’t you believe me?”

Jethro shook his head. “Don’t rightly matter if I do or not. Truth is, those horses back East are most likely gentled to riders and they put fancy English saddles on them. I don’t suppose you’ve ridden one of these here regular saddles since you were a girl.”

Patricia’s unyielding expression mellowed and she bit her lip. “Well, I suppose that could make a difference.”

“It surely does.”

Patricia filled her lungs with air and continued her admonishment. “Still, the horses you rent out should be more gentle.”

Jethro didn’t back down. He brought his face close so that he looked down his nose at her. “And the rider should treat the mare with more regard.”

“Good day, Mr. Cable.” Patricia turned abruptly, an exasperated look on her face, and began walking away.

“I’ll put the charge on your father’s bill, Miss Wesley,” Jethro called out to her.

Kate hoped Patricia would continue on in a hurry to get away and pass her by, but instead she stopped
when she noticed Kate just inside the livery. “Hello, Mary Kathryn,” she said in greeting.

“Good afternoon, Patricia.” Kate thought to tell her to call her “Kate,” but decided she really didn’t want Patricia using the name she preferred. To Patricia, she’d always be Mary Kathryn, the saloon gal’s daughter, anyway.

“Are you planning on renting a horse from that rude man?”

“Jethro Cable? Rude? I’ve only met him once, but he seemed perfectly friendly. I plan on renting a wagon for tomorrow.”

Patricia’s eyebrows lifted. “Oh, going somewhere in particular?”

“Yes,” Kate answered without elaborating. It was none of Patricia’s business what she wanted with a wagon.

“I see, well, I do hope you have good weather for your ride. Cole and I were saying, last night over dinner, just how fair our weather has been lately. He hopes the good weather continues for the Founder’s Day celebration coming up soon.”

Kate’s heart nearly plummeted to the ground. The Founder’s Day celebration had caused her nothing but despair. She recalled all too vividly the past and how much she had wanted Cole’s invitation to that particular celebration when she had been a love-struck girl of fifteen. But instead, he’d asked Patricia and he’d broken her young heart. Nothing seemed to have changed except that Kate had hardened her heart and
her spirit to Cole. He was a different man than she remembered. But it still hurt when she looked into his eyes. It still hurt to see him about town, tall and proud, wearing his sheriff’s badge like a shield of honor. It still hurt to know she wasn’t good enough for him.

“I really have to see Jethro now, Patricia. Have a good day.” Kate walked past Patricia without even a second glance. She had too much to do and couldn’t spend any more time reliving the past.

She walked to a stall where she spotted Jethro combing down a bay mare.

“Hello, Mr. Cable.”

He turned to face her, setting down his currycomb. “Why, Miss Malone, good afternoon.” Kate watched as he swatted a fine layer of dust off his clothes and came out of the stall. “And it’s Jethro, if you don’t mind.”

“Jethro,” she said with a smile. “And I’m Kate.”

“Kate,” he repeated with a nod. “Nora told me she came by for a visit. She said you were working on fixing up the old Brown place.”

“Yes, it’s coming along nicely. I’ve actually gotten most of the cobwebs out,” she said. “I’m so glad Nora came by. We had a good visit. She’s a wonderful woman.”

“She speaks highly of you, too.” He grinned and white teeth flashed against a handsome face. “What can I do for you?”

“Well, I need to rent a wagon for tomorrow. Is that possible?”

“Sure thing. How long will you need it?”

“Not all that long. I have to drive over to the lumber camp on the other side of Crystal Creek.”

Jethro scratched his head. “I see.”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, ma’am, but a lady shouldn’t be going into one of those lumber camps alone.”

“I’m afraid I have no choice. I plan to order the wood to rebuild the exterior of the saloon. While I’m there, I also hoped to hire on a few men to do the building.”

“Listen, Miss Kate, I have me an idea. Abe will be here all day tomorrow, working the livery. I’ll be happy to drive the wagon and take you. No extra charge. It’ll be my pleasure.”

Kate debated about half a second. She had dreaded going into that camp alone. She’d heard stories about the women-starved men up there in the hills. Having Jethro by her side would certainly ease her mind. “Thank you, Jethro. I think I’ll take you up on your offer, but only if you let me repay your kindness. I’d like to have the Cables to dinner one evening.”

Jethro cast her a wide grin. “Just name the day, Miss Kate. I’ll be there.”

M
rs. Gregory wiped her hands on her apron after breakfast and scooted Meggie out of the room, telling her to wash up and get dressed. Once Meggie had left the kitchen, Cole’s housekeeper turned to him with a look of concern on her face. “I’ll be needing to speak with you, Sheriff.”

Usually the woman had a cheerful disposition, so Cole braced himself. He could see she had something serious to discuss with him. “Now’s a good time, Mrs. Gregory. Why don’t we sit in the parlor?”

“That’ll be fine.”

He followed her into the parlor and waited until she sat down on the horsehair sofa. He took a seat in his favorite chair and gave her his full attention. “What is it that you’d like to say?”

She heaved a heavy sigh and began with a small smile. “I love working here, Sheriff. It ain’t that. And lord knows I love that little child with all my heart, but I’m afraid I’ll be leaving you soon. You see, my
youngest daughter Caroline is expecting her third child. She’s asked me to come to live with them on their homestead after the baby is born.”

“Well, you can hardly refuse such an offer. I know you miss seeing your own grandchildren.”

Mrs. Gregory truly looked regretful. Tears misted up in her eyes. “I’ve given this great thought. At times, it’s perplexed me so. That little child of yours needs a woman about. I know that, but I am getting on in years and would like to spend my remaining days with my children.”

Cole rubbed his jaw and furrowed his brows. He’d become accustomed to having Mrs. Gregory about the house. He had hired her just after Jeb’s death, when Meggie was two and a half. They’d come a long way together, but he could understand her wanting to live with her children.

Family was everything.

“I understand. Meggie and I will surely miss you.”

“I’m not rushing out on you, Sheriff. I’ll agree to stay on for several months. Until you can find a replacement for me.”

“Thank you. I don’t know if anyone can replace you, but we’ll try to find someone suitable.”

Cole didn’t know where. It had been a stroke of luck, like being dealt an ace-high straight, finding Mrs. Gregory when he did. He’d really come to rely on her.

“If I might add something. It’s nothing you ain’t heard me spouting about before, but you should find
yourself a wife. A young man like yourself and that lovely child. I’m sure there’s more than one lady who’d like to fill that position, if you get my meaning.”

Cole chuckled. Mrs. Gregory oftentimes surprised him with her blunt accounting of things.

“Meggie should have some brothers and sisters, don’t you think?”

Cole’s brief amusement vanished at the mention of his duty to his daughter. Yes, Meggie should have siblings to play with. He’d often thought her a lonely child, being raised by a father who struggled hard to make time for her. And how Meggie would love a little brother or sister in the house. Hell, he’d always wanted a house full of children. The woman he married would have to want the same. And not have ideas of building a saloon, he thought wryly. He’d find another housekeeper to help with Meggie before he made a mistake in marriage. “I’ve given that some thought.”

“Well,” she said, sitting straight up on the sofa and looking him dead in the eye, “thinking isn’t what’s needed here. You got to listen to your heart. Why, before my dear husband Samuel passed at the age of sixty, I’d still get a warm feeling every time that man walked into the house. That’s what I’m talking about…listening to your heart never steers you wrong.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And I won’t be abandoning you. I’ll stay on
through the spring. I’m hoping you’ll have found someone by then.”

Cole nodded. “Me, too.”

“And if you don’t mind, I’d like to be the one to tell the little miss about my plans, when the time is right.”

“That’s fine by me.” Cole had faith that Mrs. Gregory would know how best to tell Meggie of her leaving. Hell, he didn’t relish the thought of taking yet another person away from the child. She’d already lost so much.

Kate hopped up into the wagon, ready for the trip back to town. She was thrilled with her success at the lumber camp. With Jethro by her side, she’d had no trouble in purchasing the materials needed for the Silver Saddle. Jethro was kind enough to seek out the men who would be building her saloon. He knew about fair wages and made the men an honest offer of employment.

The Silver Saddle was on its way!

Kate thought about her grandfather and the legend of how the Silver Saddle began with two empty barrels holding up a long plank that served as a bar. In those days, the prospectors didn’t care where they got their beer, but having it cold was an added treat. With a good head for business, Grandpa John had found an easy way to keep the beer cold, by using big cisterns of readily available cool creek water to store the barrels in.

It had been a raw and humble beginning, but the Silver Saddle had thrived in those days and soon after, a building made of wood with a thick sod roof had been constructed. Kate’s grandfather had seen the start of the saloon, but it was her mother who had added style and elegance to the decor. And Kate’s ideas were even more elaborate. Oh, she had such grand plans for the Silver Saddle. She couldn’t see how folks would stay away.

“Jethro, I can’t imagine what my day would have been like without your aid. Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Miss Kate. Let me know if there’s anything else you’ll be needing,” he said as he worked the team down a steep hill. “I’m willing to help.”

Kate appreciated Jethro’s friendship. He was a man who wasn’t stuck with an idea in his head about what a woman ought to and ought
not
to do in her life. Unlike a certain staunch and stubborn sheriff she knew. But thinking of Cole’s views would only sour an otherwise glorious day.

Today Kate had taken the first official step in finally realizing her and Mama’s dream. The Silver Saddle belonged in Crystal Creek. It had been one of the first gainful enterprises in a town filled with people coming and going. And it would stand again, as a loving legacy to her mama’s family.

When Jethro pulled the team to a halt in front of the livery, Kate thanked him again. “I’ll be checking
with Nora to figure when all of you can come for supper. I thought, perhaps Sunday, after church?”

Jethro grinned heartily. “That’s a fine time. Abe and me, well, we always take off a half a day for Sunday worship.”

“Good, then I’ll speak with Nora tomorrow and we’ll settle it.”

Jethro jumped down from the wagon and came around to her side. With a firm hand, he helped her down. Kate smiled warmly at her new friend but refused his offer to walk her home. She was too excited to go home just yet.

On impulse, she headed for the schoolhouse, located at the edge of town. She strolled leisurely, noting subtle changes to the town she’d grown up in. Many shops along the street had changed ownership, others had been torn down only to have been rebuilt into finer, larger structures. Crystal Creek was thriving, it seemed, but Kate stopped abruptly when the schoolhouse came into view. She hadn’t recalled it looking so shabby before. The once-fine bright red-and-white schoolhouse now showed chipped and faded paint. Two of the side windows had been boarded up. Why, the very planks holding the structure together seemed to be hanging on by a thread. The schoolhouse was in desperate need of repair.

“Oh my,” Kate muttered, saddened by the aged look of a place in which she had spent so much time. She had never really minded school so much. She and Cole had had many a good time here, eating lunch
by the old swing, playing silly games in the yard, working on their lessons.

They had been good times, Kate had to admit. Back then, she and Cole saw eye to eye on most things. Now she feared they’d be nothing more than two people on the opposite side of the fence, looking for a way over but never once thinking to take one rung at a time until they reached the top at the same moment.

Kate walked away from the schoolhouse with sadness in her heart. She’d didn’t know if seeing the schoolhouse in its run-down state had put her in such a melancholy mood, or whether it had been thinking about her past with Cole. Either way, there was no help for it. There were just some things a body couldn’t change.

Cole stood in front of his office with hands on hips, staring at the supply wagons from Buckston Lumber Camp, watching as men unloaded large wooden beams in front of the saloon. Curiosity had many a shop owner coming out of their front doors to see to the goings-on. More than a few of them were darting glances his way, but there wasn’t a darn thing he could do about it now. There was no law in building a new establishment, only in operating it. As soon as the saloon opened for business, Kate would be breaking the law.

Cole didn’t know what irritated him more, having Kate openly defy the town ordinance, or seeing her riding into town yesterday with Jethro Cable. Cole
had come out of his office to make his rounds on the street when he witnessed a smiling Kate being lifted down from the wagon by a clearly smitten young man. Cole’s entire body stiffened when he saw Jethro’s hands around her waist. He’d cursed up a streak and called himself every kind of fool for wanting her. He’d not be caught mooning over a woman he couldn’t have.

He strode with purpose toward the saloon, a frown pulling at his lips, watching Kate’s green eyes light with eager anticipation while the men unloaded the supplies.

“Good afternoon, Sheriff Bradshaw.”

“Kate.”

Kate bubbled over with excitement that he couldn’t share. “The supplies are all here. Soon my orders will be arriving from the East and I’ll be in business.” Her smile rivaled the sun, and Cole got the feeling nothing would diminish her enthusiasm.

“Kate, I’m warning you one last time. You need to take this up with the town council. You need their approval. Let them put it to a vote.”

“If you were on the town council, Cole, how would you vote?” she asked, her voice deceptively soft and sweet.

“You know the answer to that. The saloon’s going to cause you nothing but trouble.”

She ignored him and turned her gaze to the smoke-laden walls of the old structure. “Just picture it, Cole. It’ll be the grandest building in town. Once folks see
what a fine establishment it is, they’ll come around. I’m sure of it.”

“You’re going to serve beer and whiskey, aren’t you?”

Kate’s eyes rounded. “Of course. I’m gonna use Grandpa John’s method for cooling the beer. Cold beer is what I’ll be serving.”

“And there’s going to be gambling?”

“Well, I chose not to put in gaming tables. But there’s nothing to stop a man from sitting down for a hand or two of poker.”

“What you’ll get is drunken gamblers and a whole lot of grief.”

Kate whirled around and scorched him with fire in her eyes. The rims sparked emerald flames. “Why are you so opposed, Cole? Don’t you know how important this is to me? The saloon is my life. I don’t know how to do anything else.”

Cole raked a gaze over her body. She was all female, full-bodied and beautiful. He’d become painfully aware of that since she’d returned to Crystal Creek. Cole could think of a world of things Kate could do. Hell, she could pleasure a man with just one beautiful smile. He didn’t allow his mind to wander to the other more exciting ways she could keep a man happy. “A woman needs to know how to keep a fine house and raise her babies, Kate.”

The flame in her eyes died then. “I wanted that once,” she said sadly. “But I’m the saloon gal’s daughter, remember? It’s what I was meant to do.”

Anger began to mount and Cole had a time keeping his temper from flaring. “Fine, Kate, build your saloon. But mark my words, this town is gonna burn you down…
without
any flames.”

Cole stared into her eyes for a long moment. He was through trying to protect her. He was through trying to change her mind. And he hoped to hell…he was through wanting her.

Kate sat in the Cable kitchen, sipping tea, enjoying Nora’s company. “Honestly, Nora, I didn’t come here to interrupt your day. I only wanted to extend an invitation for you, Abe and Jethro to dinner Sunday after church.”

“Of course we’ll come. Thank you. And nonsense, Kate,” Nora said gaily, waving her off with a small gesture of her hand. “I’m happy as pie to have your company. There’s not much for me to do around here with the men gone all day. Of course,” she added with a sly smile, “in about six months, there’s going to be plenty for me to do.”

Kate glanced down at Nora’s hand. She’d placed it on her stomach. “Are you…with child?”

Nora’s face broke out into the happiest expression Kate had ever seen. Nora nearly squeaked her answer. “Yes.”

Kate bounded out of her seat and so did Nora. They hugged each other tight, tears flowing freely down both of their cheeks. “Oh, Nora, how absolutely wonderful
for you. When did you say the baby will come?”

Nora wiped away happy tears with the back of her hand. Her face positively glowed. “By the end of summer. I just found out. Abe doesn’t know yet. I plan to tell him tonight, when we are alone.”

Kate smiled, pledging, “I promise not to tell a soul.”

“I’m so glad you came by today. I was nearly bursting with the news. I wanted to tell somebody. I’m glad it was you.”

“Oh, Nora, so am I.” Kate had never been privy to such special information, nor had she ever felt so close to another woman. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m… I’m fine, really. But in the morning sometimes, I get a little bit queasy.”

“Hmm. I heard that’s not at all unusual. Of course, I don’t know much about babies.” Kate urged Nora to sit and finish her blueberry muffin. “But I do know you’ve got to eat up real good. You’re eating for two now.”

“I’m so hungry all the time, Kate.” Nora blushed, a red flush of color staining her tear-streaked cheeks. “I’m surprised Abe hasn’t guessed. I’m eating more than he does now.”

Kate laughed. “Well, after tonight, he’ll understand what’s gotten into his wife.”

Nora sipped her tea and glanced at Kate. Her face still beamed with happiness, but she had a curious look about her.