Silverton: Claims On The Heart Page 11

  When the service ended Nancy drew her out with them. On the lawn, she said, “We’re all going to lunch at the hotel, you and Martin, your papa, Tom and me. Martin’s treating us. Isn’t it exciting? I’ve never been to the hotel.”

  Collin stood apart from their group waiting for her to join him. She was sure he could hear the conversation. In fact, she was sure half the congregation had overheard Nancy’s excited announcement.

  Martin joined them, looking very pleased with himself. “Shall we go, ladies? I believe a table is waiting for us.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Kathleen patted Nancy’s arm as she moved away. She approached Collin.

  He wore a guarded expression as if challenging her to keep to their plans.

  Her heart felt heavy. “I didn’t know about this. I can’t disappoint Nancy. If it was just me I wouldn’t care.” She stopped. “Please try and understand.”

  Collin’s jaw went tight. “I understand perfectly.” He turned and strode away.

  Kathleen blinked back tears. Her hurt quickly turned to anger. Couldn’t he see that she was in an awkward position? Surely, he could try to understand. She whirled away and forced a smile. She would go with Martin and she would have a good time.

  And if Collin didn’t choose to forgive her, he could keep away.

  She ignored Nancy’s curious look as she took her arm and began to describe the inside of the hotel.

  The men fell in step behind them.

  Her heart refused to obey her determination to enjoy herself. With every step, she wished that Martin had chosen a different surprise. Though he could afford to take her to dinner at the hotel, while Collin could only take her on walks and picnics, she knew which she preferred.

  10

  Collin sent a rock flying with the toe of his boot. It didn’t do a thing to ease the anger seething inside him. Was this how it was going to be? Second choice. Good enough to keep company when the great Martin Long didn’t beckon. He didn’t think so.

  He was honest enough to admit that he’d lost his heart to Kathleen. And he was proud enough to know he wouldn’t respect himself if he groveled for her affection.

  He knew what Martin was like. And he’d tried to tell her. Now the choice was up to Kathleen. If she chose to stand him up for Martin, so be it.

  Yet, for all his bitter determination, he knew it would not be easy to stay away from her.

  

  Nancy was agog with wonder at the inside of the Grand Hotel. She commented on the chandelier, the tablecloths, the drapery, and the carpeting.

  Papa also beamed with pleasure when the waiter, wearing an impeccable white jacket, brought his menu.

  “Have whatever you like,” Martin said. “Anything at all.”

  They all ordered thick steaks, and Martin ordered wine all around.

  Kathleen let its warmth ease the lump in her throat. She tried not to think about Collin. Had she done the right thing? She’d felt so trapped. Her resolve to be angry with him had faded. She wanted to make amends, to know they could walk together and that he would still call at her house. Yet, the expression on his face left no doubt that he was angry.

  Nancy was commenting on the fine quality of the cheese.

  Kathleen pushed Collin from her mind. She would think of him later. Deep in her heart she wondered if it was any use. She would have to choose.

  If Martin didn’t insist upon it, Collin would.

  They tarried over the scrumptious meal.

  Papa was obviously enjoying himself. Perhaps she should not think only of her own feelings. Her father wasn’t getting any younger. He wouldn’t always be able to run a store. She must think of his future. Martin could provide for both of them with a comfortable home.

  Martin paused in his story to glance at her, and she smiled back. She was doing her best to pretend she was delighted to be here. In truth, she was paying little attention to what he said. She forced herself to join the conversation.

  “Did you know that Martin is from St. Louis, just like Papa and me?” she asked Nancy.

  “No. How nice to have that in common.”

  Kathleen turned to Martin. “I wonder if you know the Ellis family. Their daughter was a good friend of mine, or maybe you know the…”

  Martin broke in. “Why talk about St. Louis when there is Europe to be explored? I’ve been thinking about taking a trip to London.”

  Nancy’s gaze danced. “Europe, can you imagine?” She grabbed Tom’s hand. “I hope someday we’ll get to go. I’ve always wanted to see London.”

  Nancy and Martin began an animated discussion of the sights to see.

  Kathleen glanced around. No one else seemed to find it strange how quickly he’d changed the subject. He’d seemed uncomfortable with talking about acquaintances in St. Louis.

  They ate rich éclairs for dessert.

  Martin paid the bill.

  On the way out of the hotel, Nancy grabbed her arm and whispered, “London. Imagine. I bet that’s where he’d go for a honeymoon.”

  Kathleen felt her cheeks grow hot as she tried to quiet her enthusiastic friend.

  “But wouldn’t that be romantic?” Nancy persisted, lowering her voice still further.

  “Yes, I’m sure it would. I hope Tom can take you there sometime.”

  Nancy sighed. “I bet you get there before I do.”

  Kathleen decided it was best to steer her away from the subject of travel. “Do you know who I met when Martin took me to the hotel for supper?”

  “Who?” Nancy’s eyes widened.

  “The mayor. He seemed very friendly.”

  “How fun. I bet you get invited to his holiday party. He gives a party every year in that beautiful house. You’ll have to tell me all about it.”

  “Maybe you’ll be invited.”

  Nancy wrinkled her nose. “I doubt it.”

  Nancy and Tom turned to their street. They thanked Martin for lunch before linking hands for the walk home. They looked so comfortable together that Kathleen felt a twinge of envy.

  She longed for a comfortable relationship, a soul-mate with whom she could share her deepest thoughts. She thought she might have found one in Collin. But now that he was angry, she wasn’t sure. She pushed aside the errant thought. What had happened was not her fault. She was not going to think about Collin. But if he wanted to meet her half-way…

  “Why the frown?” Martin’s voice jarred.

  She couldn’t very well tell him what she’d been thinking. “I was worrying about the silver mines. Someone told us they might be playing out.”

  His neatly trimmed eyebrows knitted. He took great care with every detail of his appearance. She should admire such careful grooming. Yet, somehow, it made him seem a little too concerned with himself.

  He cleared his throat. “I don’t think there’s any reason to worry about the mines. Even if they produce less for a while, they’ll strike another vein.”

  “Until they do, your business will be slow,” she said.

  “It’s a good thing I have plenty to live on. I won’t have to worry about a slow down. You won’t have to worry either if you stick with me.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a possessive squeeze.

  Papa nodded vigorously. “It’s good to have something to fall back on.”

  Kathleen wondered if he was hinting that Martin would be a safe port if they hit hard times. Perhaps he was worried about the future of the store.

  When they reached home, Papa clapped Martin on the shoulder. “Come in and sit if you like.”

  Kathleen resisted the urge to protest. She would have dearly liked some time alone.

  Martin wore a beaming smile as he followed them inside.

  Papa went to sleep in his chair, which left Kathleen to deal with Martin.

  He leaned towards her on the settee. “Did you have a good time?”

  “I did. Thank you. It was very nice.”

  He took her hand. His palm felt damp. “Have you thought any
more about becoming my wife? You know how I feel about you.”

  “I’ve thought about it. But I haven’t made up my mind. I don’t know you well enough yet.”

  His eyes darkened and his lips tightened, although his voice was calm when he spoke. “What else do you need to know? I’m a smart businessman. I can take care of you. And I’d treat you like a queen. What more could you want?”

  Kathleen’s stomach tightened into a ball of misery. “I know I’ve asked you to be patient. And I’ll have to ask you to do so again.”

  Martin glowered. “Any other woman in town would jump at this chance.”

  Kathleen met him with stubborn determination. “I’m not any other woman. And I won’t be rushed.”

  Martin took a deep breath and smoothed the frown from his brow. “You certainly have a mind of your own. And I respect that. I’d be bored with a woman who had no backbone.” He gave her a confident smile. “I’m sure you’ll soon see that we’re meant to be together.”

  “I honestly don’t know. I haven’t been able to sort out my feelings,” she said.

  “You’re not nursing romantic fancies for McAllister, are you?”

  “My feelings are for me to unravel.” Needing a few moments to collect herself from the hot rush of anger at his presumption, she stood. “I’ll stir up the fire. It’s getting chilly in here.”

  Though Martin didn’t mention Collin again, he became unusually quiet, which forced her to do most of the talking.

  Kathleen was relieved when he finally left. She went to the kitchen to stir up supper. Tonight she looked forward to the task. Her pots and pans would be neither angry nor demanding. They were safer company than some people.

  Papa joined her a short while later. “Guess I fell asleep. Did you have a nice visit?”

  “He keeps asking me to marry him.”

  Papa studied her face as he sat down to his supper. “What do you say?”

  “I told him I needed more time. I don’t want to be rushed. What do you think I should do?”

  Papa considered her question. “Martin’s a smart man. He’d probably make you a good husband. But if you don’t love him you won’t be happy. And more than anything I want you to be happy. Follow your heart and do what’s right for you. If you do that, I’ll be happy.”

  Kathleen paused from sliding a slice of ham onto his plate and kissed the top of his smooth head. “Thank you, Papa. That’s just what I’ll do.”

  The following morning Kathleen glanced out the kitchen window to see the ground blanketed in white. Delicate flakes clung to tree branches. The snow was doomed to melt as a canopy of crystalline blue spread across the sky chasing the clouds away.

  The day was clear and cold by the time she joined Papa at the store.

  One of the few customers who came in that morning brought news that one of the mines was closing and that people were leaving town.

  Was it Collin’s mine that closed?

  She wanted to run to the boarding house, afraid she would find Collin packing his bags. And what could she say? What would hold him if he didn’t care to stay? A sense of loss swept over her that made it hard to do the simplest of tasks. She didn’t even know if Collin was out of a job, but the prospect of never seeing him again brought tears to her eyes. He had been angry with her. Deep in her heart she had assumed they would make it right and still be friends.

  The day dragged into afternoon.

  Suddenly a commotion down the block brought the shopkeepers running to their doors.

  Gunfire was followed by the clatter of horses galloping madly past the store. They were gone in a flash, replaced by men shouting to one another in the street.

  Kathleen dashed out the door just behind Vic and her father.

  The street was in chaos. Men ran into and out of the bank.

  Papa stopped a man on his way down the street. “What’s all the fuss?”

  “Banks been robbed. Folks in the bank thought it might be the same gang that shot up the town awhile back. Blacksmith went to fetch the sheriff.” The man trotted away eager to join the blacksmith.

  Kathleen stared after him. “I wonder if anyone was hurt.”

  The doctor came scurrying down the block carrying his bag.

  Mr. Evers stood outside his bank looking white and shaken.

  Papa went over to speak to him.

  Kathleen followed and though she’d found him irritating when she’d gone for the house key, she felt sorry for him now.

  He was trembling. “They shot our teller. He gave them the money. Why did they shoot him?”

  “I don’t know.” Kathleen urged him to sit down on the plank sidewalk.

  A few minutes later the sheriff arrived, flanked by the blacksmith and his friend. “I heard you had a robbery. Did you see how many men?”

  Mr. Evers got to his feet. “There were six, I think.”

  The sheriff disappeared into the bank. When he returned, he said, “The good news is that Doc says the teller is going to be all right. Bad news is that I’ll need a posse to head after these men before they get clean away. Since it’ll take too long to round up men working in the mines, I’ll have to ask you store owners to come along. Get your guns and borrow a horse from the livery if you need one. We’ll meet in fifteen minutes in front of the jail.”

  Kathleen clutched Papa’s arm. “You’re not going, are you?’

  “Of course I’m going. If we don’t stop this sort of thing we’ll have bank robberies and shootings on the street. The next time, they might shoot into our store.”

  “But don’t you think the younger men…”

  Papa cut her off. “You heard the sheriff. There’s no time to round the young men up from the mines. Those outlaws already have a head start.”

  Kathleen followed him back to the store where he took his six-shooter out from behind the counter. He holstered his gun and headed off to the livery stable leaving Kathleen alone in the front of the store. Her stomach churned with worry.

  Papa was no match for armed robbers. And he hadn’t ridden much in years. What if he got shot or separated from the group?

  The clamor of men shouting to one another as they met in front of the jail turned louder.

  People went back to their stores and homes and the town grew quiet.

  Foreboding stole over Kathleen that she could not shake.

  The posse rode back in the late afternoon.

  Kathleen was closing up the store when she saw them winding down from the mountain pass. They led horses without riders and that gave her hope that they’d caught up with the bandits and brought back their mounts.

  Other people had seen the posse and sent out word that they were returning. A crowd soon gathered at the livery.

  Kathleen hurried to join them. As they drew close Kathleen’s hopefulness dimmed with the sight of their sober faces. The horses carried the dead slung over their backs. But were they the bandits or the posse?

  Papa was not riding his borrowed horse. He rode with the blacksmith, slumped forward with the man’s strong arms around him.

  It took Kathleen only a moment to realize that something was terribly wrong. She uttered a small cry and rushed forward.

  “Careful, ma’am. His horse spooked during the shooting and he got throwed off.”

  “Papa.” She clasped his leg.

  Papa groaned but made no attempt to sit up.

  “I’ve got to get him home.” Kathleen wrung her hands.

  “I’ll take him for you. Hey, Joe, can you give me a hand when we get there? His leg’s broke and he got a bad knock on the head.”

  Tears slid down Kathleen’s cheeks. Why had she let him go? She should have done something to stop him.

  The sheriff rode through the crowd answering their questions. “We lost one of our own and have one bad hurt. We killed some of the outlaws, though one must have got away and taken part of the money. We got some of it back.” He held up a bank bag and then added, “It’ll be dark soon. I’ll go out tomorr
ow and see if I can track the ones who escaped.”

  “They got my friend, Lenny,” the blacksmith growled, gesturing towards a man hanging limp across his horse.

  Kathleen allowed Joe to give her a hand onto his horse, and they made their way slowly towards her home

  The blacksmith rode very slow, trying not to jolt Papa. The two men lifted him down and carried him into the house.

  His face was pinched and pale as they laid him on his bed. He opened his eyes as Kathleen hovered over him. “I can’t move my leg.”

  Kathleen patted his shoulder as she pulled up the sheet. “It’s all right. Someone’s gone to fetch the doctor. He’ll be here soon.”

  Papa closed his eyes and seemed to drift into sleep.

  Kathleen kept watch over him until the doctor arrived. She let the man in, her heart thumping with anxiety. Worry-filled thoughts raced around in her brain. What if the doctor said Papa’s injury was fatal? Or if he never walked again? She sank into a chair in the corner twisting her skirt between her fingers as she waited for the report.

  At last, the doctor snapped his bag closed.

  Papa had regained consciousness and was asking about his leg.

  “We’ll have to see,” said the doc. “Your leg’s broken below your knee and so is your wrist. They’ll take awhile to mend. Hopefully, you’ll be able to walk all right once it’s strong. You’re lucky it wasn’t your neck.”

  He turned to include Kathleen in his instructions. “I’m going to fix up those breaks. You’ll need to keep him quiet after that bump on the head. In fact, he’ll need somebody to do for him for quite a while.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  “Good girl. I’ll be back in a bit with the things I need to fix him up.” He patted her hand as he left the room.

  “You hear that, Papa? The doc thinks you’ll be all right.”

  His eyes were filled with misery from more than his physical pain. “What have I done? If you’re stuck here with me, who’ll manage the store?”

  “Vic can run it. He did before we came.” She felt less than truthful in her assurance. The store had been filthy and ill-organized when they’d arrived. After her improvements, the ladies of the town had begun to shop there. Without her or Papa, she had no doubt that Vic would let the store run down again.