Courting Kate (25 page)

She glanced at T.L., grateful to see that he apparently hadn’t noticed her disquiet, then she switched her attention to her pet. At least the dog seemed glad to be home.

Fluffy raced ahead of them, examining every tree, every blade of grass to see if there had been any four-legged trespassers in his territory. The dog once again marked his boundaries, then sat tongue lolling, tail wagging, on her doorstep.

Kate and the minister pulled their horses up in front of the house and dismounted.

T.L. untied her carpetbag and carried it to her doorstep.

She inserted the key into the lock and opened the door, allowing the dog and the elderly man to precede her over the threshold. “Won’t you stay for a cup of tea? It will only take a minute.”
 

The minister declined her invitation, saying that his wife would be expecting him home. Hat in hand, he gazed at her, his eyes filled with sympathy. “Miss Kate, I sense that you and Tanner care for each other more than either of you is willing to admit. I don’t know what the problem is. That’s for the two of you to work out. But if I might say one thing in Tanner’s behalf. He is a good man, hardworking, honest. There is scarcely a family in Jacksonville that he hasn’t helped out in one way or another. Not with money, mind you; Tanner’s never had much of that.”

T.L. scratched his bearded chin and gazed at her.“Take for instance that time when old man Stevens broke his leg, and Tanner cut his family a whole winter’s supply of wood. He helped build a barn for another family after a storm tore down the one they had. He sent milk in to the Widow Pearson’s children after their cow went dry.” The minister smiled. “I could go on all day and still probably not cover all the people Tanner has helped.”

“I had no idea,” Kate said in amazement. “He never said anything about it.”

“He wouldn’t.” The preacher chuckled. “But, Tanner also has his faults. He’s as stubborn as those mules of his, and so proud it’s almost sinful. I know it’s not any of my business, but I think he’s gotten in over his head on that lumber contract. He’s never said a word, but I heard some of the miners talking. I also know he would never ask for, or accept, any help.”

“Tanner is a good man, and devoted to his brothers,” Kate agreed. “I guess you heard how I came to be here.”

“Yes. The boys meant well. Too bad it didn’t pan out.” He patted her hand. “Right now Tanner has a lot on his plate, and finding some of it too tough to chew. Just give him a little time— it might work out yet.”

Kate knew she could wait forever and nothing would ever change, but she couldn’t tell the minister that. Tanner loved the mountain and his brothers. He had no room in his life for anything, or anyone, else.

“Goodbye, T.L., and thank you.” She leaned forward and kissed the old gentleman on his cheek.
 

“If you ever need to talk to me, about anything at all, send word to my wife. She’ll know where to reach me.” He bent and rubbed the dog’s head, then, leading the spare horse, the grizzled old preacher bid her goodbye and rode away.
 

“Well, Fluffy, looks like we’re home again.” She picked up her bag and moved it into the sleeping area, then she removed her cloak and hat and hung them on a peg. She sighed and looked around. Except for a thick layer of dust, everything was as she left it. Quiet, neat. And lonely.

* * *

In the next two days Kate found herself too busy to dwell on her relationship with Tanner.
 

First she had a long visit with Jeanne, who brought her up to date on everything that had occurred in her absence. After that, she cleaned and polished her house until everything gleamed. Then she made a trip to the mercantile and restocked her larder. Finally, she posted notices that she was back in business.

The next morning as she removed the last of the golden-crusted pies from the oven and sniffed the cinnamon-scented air, it seemed as if she had never left. Her pastries had never looked, or smelled, more delicious. And judging from the line forming outside her door, she would be sold out before the hour had passed.
 

Filled with anticipation, she opened the door and beamed her customers a bright smile. “Hello, men. Today we have dried apple pie with raisins. We also have canned peach pie.”

“What is your choice?” she asked a bearded miner who stood at the head of the line.

The man gave her a sly grin. “I’ll take one of each.” He leaned closer. “And I’ll toss in ten dollars extra if you’ll let me have a little of what you’ve been giving Tanner Blaine.”

Kate drew back as if the man had slapped her. “I don’t know what you’ve been led to believe, sir,” she hissed, her face flaming. “I sell pies. Nothing else. If you want two pies, that will be a dollar and a half. Otherwise, please leave.”

“Seventy-five cents apiece? Keep your damn pies. From what I heard they ain’t worth eatin’ anyway.” A surly look on his face, the man shoved his way through the crowd and headed down the street.
 

Kate stared at the rest of the men. “My pies are now seventy-five cents each, and I think you’ll find them worth it. Anyone wanting a cheaper variety might find some at the bakery down the street.”

A few of the men left, but most of them stayed. Her old friend Chauncey stepped to the head of the line. “I’ll take
four
pies, Miss Kate,” he said loudly. “And I consider myself lucky to get them.” He turned to face the rest of the men. “Some folks, like that fool that just left, don’t have no manners. Act like they been raised by dogs.” The little miner’s eyes narrowed. “Miss Kate is a lady. Anybody treating her any different will answer to me.” He drew three silver dollars out of his pocket and handed them to Kate.
 

Her vision blurring, she smiled at him. “Thank you,” she murmured. She carefully wrapped his pies and handed them across the counter.

“If anybody gives you a bad time, you just let me know.” The bristle-faced miner winked and turned to the crowd. “Oh, don’t these smell good.” Chauncey waved one under the next man’s nose. “Glad I got mine first,” he crowed, making his way down the line.

“I’ll take two. Your choice.” The next man stepped forward and paid her. While he didn’t voice it, his lust-filled look told her that he, too, shared the first miner’s opinion.

Avoiding his gaze, she handed him his pies, then went to the next person in line.
 

When the last of the pies had been sold, Kate sighed in relief, then closed—and locked—her door. She peered through the window at the snow-capped mountain. “Well, Tanner, I hope you’re satisfied.”
 

He claimed he’d spared her virtue, left her innocent. But somehow during the last hour, knowing how the miners felt about her sojourn on the mountain, she’d couldn’t have felt more tarnished if she and Tanner had made love in broad daylight on Main Street.
 

* * *

It was nearing sunset when a knock brought Kate out of her chair. “Fluffy, come.” She took the dog’s collar and led him to the door.
 

“Who’s there?” she asked, praying it wasn’t one of the men returning to pay her a call.
 

“Eet ees me,
cherie
.”

Trembling with relief, Kate unfastened the latch. “Jeanne. Come in.”

The Frenchwoman entered the room, her expression curious as she watched Kate shut, then lock the door.
 

Kate motioned toward the sofa. “Sit down. The kettle is already on. I’ll make us some tea.”

With a rustle of black taffeta and petticoats, Jeanne settled her ample figure in the middle of the settee. “I had a veeseetor thees morning.”

“Oh?” Kate frowned. “Who?”
 

“Chauncey. He ees worried about you.”
 

Kate carried two cups across the room and handed one to her friend. “I did have a problem, but it was nothing serious. Beside, I’m not sure anything can be done about it.”

Jeanne raised a brow. “Deed he?”

“What?”

“Deed Tanner make love to you?”

“No!” Hurt that her friend could ask such a thing, Kate set her cup down on the table. “Of course not!”

“Ah-h, I have offended you. I’m sorry,
ma petite.”
Jeanne shook her head. “Your Tanner ees a bigger fool than I thought.”

“He isn’t
my
Tanner,” Kate said vehemently. “He isn’t
my
anything and never will be.”

“
Cherie,
my heart aches for you. I, too, gave my heart to one who never wanted eet. I got over heem eventually, and you weel, too.”

“How?” she asked, her throat tight with unshed tears. How could she ever get over Tanner, forget his touch, his kiss, and what it was like to be held in his arms?

“Find someone new,” Jeanne suggested. “Only next time, choose someone weeth your head and not your heart.”

“I doubt that a decent man would have anything to do with me. Especially since everyone in town believes I spent the last month warming Tanner’s bed.” She sipped her tea and grimaced. “And as for the other, I’m afraid my head has even less reliable judgment than my heart.”

She raised her head and met Jeanne’s knowing gaze. “Before the epidemic struck, I had decided to leave Jacksonville. Now I know that was the right decision. I don’t see that I have any alternative.”

The Frenchwoman frowned. “Maybe that ees for the best. You could do eet now,
cherie.
Get by on your own. You have changed, become more confeedent. A broken heart seems to do that to a woman.”

Jeanne placed her empty cup on the table, then rose and smoothed her skirts. “Een a way, I almost envy you. A deefferent town. A new life. A whole future of possibeeleeties.” Her dark eyes gleamed. “Who knows what adventures await you? Could be very exciting.”

“I think I’ve had my fill of adventures for a while.” Kate walked her friend to the front door, then after Jeanne had returned to her own establishment, Kate sat on her front step and waited for Fluffy to finish his rounds.
 

It was easy to make plans. It was carrying them out that was difficult. She’d need money.

If she were to get up earlier, make a few more pies each day, she could soon get her rent caught up and have enough saved to leave. She almost had enough in the bank now to repay Tanner. The question was, how could she get it to him? And how could she make him accept it when she did?

Stubborn as one of his mules,
T.L. had said.

She had to agree, Tanner was that and more. But she had been known to be stubborn, herself. She’d find a way somehow. Fluffy bounded back to her and took up a position at her feet. Raising his shaggy head, he stared toward the mountain and whined.
 

“You miss them, too, don’t you?” She removed a burr from his ear, then reluctantly got to her feet, opened the door and led him inside. The dog hated being cooped up. He needed room to exercise, room to roam.
 

She remembered how her pet had taken to John, sleeping at the foot of his bed after the boy had recovered from his illness. The pair had become constant companions. Although he’d tried hard not to, John had cried when the dog left.

Kate locked her door, then moved across the room to her chair.

Fluffy plodded across the floor and plopped down in front of the fire.

Her mood somber, Kate gazed at the dog and knew what she must do. When she was ready to move on, she would arrange for Fluffy to be taken back to the mountain, back to John. The child would take good care of her pet. And Fluffy would be happy there.

And she, once again, would be all alone.

Chapter 18

“Dang it!” Tanner glared at his ax handle as if it had broken on purpose just to spite him. He’d hoped to get another tree cut before dark, but now that wouldn’t be the case. He didn’t have a spare ax, and he had neither the time nor the patience to make and season a handle like he ofttimes did. He gathered up his gear and packed it onto the mules.

“Nothing left but to make a trip to Jacksonville.” Somehow that didn’t fill him with the despair that it should have. In fact he found himself grinning like a fool. Even though there was no one around but the animals to see, he wiped the expression from his face.

He told himself that Kate was still his responsibility. Besides, he’d promised he’d look in on her.

He hurried toward the homestead and, once there, he made Mark and Luke see to the animals while he took a bath and shaved. “Aren’t you gonna eat?” Matt asked, watching Tanner comb his hair.

“I’ll get something later. Got to get to the mercantile before they close.”

“Tell her hello,” Matt said, grinning.
 

“Who? Kate? Doubt if I’ll even see her.” Ignoring his brother’s smart-alec smirk, Tanner grabbed his coat, putting it on as he headed out the door.

Although it was past closing time when he reached town, the mercantile was still open. Homer, the proprietor, was unpacking a new shipment of goods. Tanner made his purchases, then he ambled toward the pie shop.
 

He knocked on Kate’s door, then feeling awkward as a schoolboy, he stepped back and wiped his boots on the back of his pant legs.