Silverton: Claims On The Heart (4 page)

As they walked to the doors, Kathleen was flanked by Nancy and Martin.

Nancy gripped Kathleen's arm. “You will come to the picnic, won't you?”

“I don't know. I'm not sure we have any food in the house fit for a picnic. Also, I have a lot to do today. I need to sew coverings for new straw mattresses.”

Her father broke in to the conversation. “You should go to the picnic. We could stop by the store and pick up some food for you to take.”

“Or I could have our lunches packed at the hotel. In fact, I insist,” Martin said.

“Oh, no. You've done too much already,” Kathleen protested, unsettled by his insistence at becoming her constant companion.

“Now, I insist. I'll order box lunches for you and Stan, and one for me.”

“Not for me,” Stan said. “I'm spending the afternoon getting straw and looking after the store.”

“I couldn't leave you with all the work,” Kathleen said.

Papa fixed her with a fond gaze. “I want you to go. It's high time you had some fun.”

They left the dust-blown churchyard and headed into the street.

Nancy prattled along, making plans with Martin as though Kathleen had agreed to join them.

Kathleen wavered, thinking it over and wondering if letting Martin buy her lunch was a smart thing to do.

Collin strode up and alongside their group.

She stepped beside him. “Mr. McAllister. We met at my father's store. Do you remember?”

He tipped his crowned hat. It looked handsome on his head. “I remember. Are you getting settled in?”

“Yes, thanks. Though I thought I might take the afternoon off and go to the picnic. I'd like to meet some of these people. Are you going?”

He stared into her eyes. “Will you be going?”

“Yes. And so should you. I'll bet you could do with some fun after working hard all week.”

He smiled and a dimple showed at the corner of his mouth. “How could I turn down a promise of fun?”

“Good. Then, I'll see you there.”

He stuck his hands into his pockets and sauntered away.

Martin glowered, but he smoothed the irritation from his face as she joined them once again.

“A new friend?” he asked.

“Yes. We met in the store.”

“I'd be careful who you make as a friend. A beautiful girl like you could be taken advantage of by a rough miner.”

“Collin does not strike me as a rough sort.”

“I wouldn't be so sure. You're a city girl. You're not used to these men.”

Before she could assure him that she could judge the character of her friends, Nancy broke in to arrange their picnic plans. “Why don't you get the lunches and meet us back at the church at 12:30?” she asked Martin. “Then we can all walk up to the Galena Mountain meadow together.”

“That sounds like a very good plan,” Martin said, smiling at Nancy. He tipped his hat and strode off to complete his mission of garnering lunches.

Nancy watched him go, and then turned to Kathleen with a grin. “How does it feel to be admired by one of the richest men in town? Marry him and I bet he would build you a fancy house.”

Kathleen remembered watching cattle being herded through a chute into a pen when she was a little girl. Those cows hadn't liked it one bit. She hardly knew Martin, yet everyone was trying to match them up. She frowned. Was it sheer stubbornness on her part that made her resent their efforts, or was it Martin himself? She raised her brows as she cast a sideways look at her friend. “I'm not in any hurry to marry. My father and I are setting up a comfortable home. And I won't change that until I'm sure I have the right man.”

They strolled a few more paces.

“Do you know anything about Collin McAllister?”

“I've never heard of him. He's not one of Tom's friends.”

“He works in a mine.”

“Surely you can't prefer a miner to the owner of a stamp mill?”

“I don't know. Collin doesn't seem like an ordinary miner.”

Nancy raised a feathery brow. “And how many miners do you know?”

“Only Collin.”

Her admission made them both laugh.

They stopped in front of Kathleen's house.

Nancy was still grinning as she left Kathleen and scurried home with Tom to put their own picnic together.

Papa had gone straight to the store, so Kathleen had the house to herself. Nancy's words about Martin giving her a fine home rang in her head as she studied their plain and rather bare parlor. It did not bother her at all. There were more important things than money.

Even if Martin did ask her one day, she wouldn't sell herself in marriage just to get a fine house. When she married, it would be for love and nothing else. And she would not have her decision hurried.

She sailed her hat onto her lumpy straw bed and sat down with a plop. Kicking off her slippers, she stretched her legs and wriggled her toes inside creamy cotton stockings. She was happy to have been here only two days, to have found a comfortable church and Nancy as a new friend.

Her thoughts drifted to Collin. She'd like to have time to get to know him without Martin hanging around. But right now, she needed to get ready.

Nancy had surely changed clothes and packed lunches. She would expect Kathleen back at the church in less than fifteen minutes.

Kathleen still had to change her dress and put on sturdy shoes for hiking. She undressed in a hurry. In spite of the warm day, she slipped into a long-sleeved calico dress to protect her fair skin. She drew on her boots and laced them. Then she grabbed a straw bonnet from a hook on the wall, settled it upon her head and tied the ribbons under her chin. Fine wisps of hair were sneaking out of her bonnet and curling around her face. She would have to ask Papa to order a mirror. Kathleen went outside.

Martin came towards her carrying two square lunch boxes as though they contained all the silver in the mines. He patted the top box. “There'll be no finer lunches at the picnic,” he boasted. “We'll be the talk of the town.”

“I'm sure they'll be delicious.” Kathleen smiled. “What's in them?”

Though he shook his head and frowned, his eyes held a mischievous light. “You have a healthy curiosity, Miss Morris. But it will do you no good. I won't tell you what's in the boxes. You'll have to discover it for yourself when you sit at lunch with me.”

“Then I'll content myself to wait. Is it a long walk up to the meadow?”

“Not too far, really.” He pointed. “We'll walk down Snowden Street and turn. Then it's a short hike up to the meadow.”

They stopped at the church to meet up with Nancy and Tom. Nancy was decked in a simple gingham dress and sensible walking shoes. Tom carried a worn blanket under his arm, their seating for the picnic. As they started off, the men fell behind as they talked.

On Snowden Street, Kathleen sucked in her breath. “My, what a beautiful house.”

“You haven't seen it yet?” Nancy asked. “It was contracted by a lady named Emma Harris. Some say she was a Russian princess. Mayor Wingate bought it awhile back and lives there now.”

From the spindles of the generous front porch, the scroll work of the upper story, and the graceful lacy eaves of the Queen Ann-style manor, it was lovely. “He must be very proud of his home.”

Martin stepped beside her. “The mayor and I are acquaintances. Perhaps I could arrange for you to see inside. You might get ideas for furnishings that you like. I wouldn't be surprised if you have a grand home of your own one day.”

“That's kind of you, but I'd feel awkward imposing like that.”

“I'm sure that in the course of social events, you'll be invited there.”

“And if you are I hope you'll see that I'm invited, too,” Nancy whispered.

Kathleen patted her friend's hand. “I'll try. But I don't know how a shopkeeper's daughter will find herself in the home of a mayor.”

Martin gave Nancy a knowing wink. “It's who you know, of course. If you have the right friends, nothing is impossible.”

Nancy gave Kathleen a meaningful nudge. “He's right, you know.” She took Kathleen's arm and they strolled along, letting the men fall behind again.

Ahead of them, another group of church-goers laughed and chatted their way towards the meadow.

The dust rose at every step, forming gray clouds about their ankles and coating clothing and shoes. Everything in Kathleen's house was layered with the same dust. By the time she got home today, her stockings would be as gray as the dirt.

In the meadow, a rich carpet of native grass cushioned their steps. Knee-high wildflowers were thrown about like festive decorations, standing at ramrod attention stretching to drink in the golden glory of the sun.

Several groups were already spreading their blankets. Mothers called to children, urging them to come to lunch. The children ran with abandon like wild creatures and pretended not to hear. Men pounded stakes into the ground for games of horseshoes, and folks greeted each other as though they had not just seen one another that morning.

Kathleen‘s gaze roamed the crowd. Collin had said that he would come. Would he be alone like most of the unmarried men or did he know a young lady to invite? She hoped he would come alone.

And he did.

Her pulse quickened when she saw him striding up the meadow holding a lunch wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. She longed to invite him to join them. Yet, she felt sure that Martin's reaction would make it awkward. And to leave the group and join him would be rude.

Her quandary was settled as the pastor spotted him and called him over inviting Collin to join him and his wife. They were already playing host to another miner whose squashed hat and coarse clothes made Collin look dapper in his brown suit of light wool.

A hush fell over the meadow when the pastor raised his hands towards the heavens, which were blanketed by lacy white clouds. He offered a blessing in which he thanked God for the ample provisions that had allowed this picnic.

When he finished the crowd set to their lunches with enthusiasm—brought about by healthy appetites and high altitude, or so Nancy said.

“And now will you tell me what's for lunch?” Kathleen asked.

Martin's long face split into a grin as he extended a box towards her. “You can see for yourself.”

She untied the ribbon and opened the lid. The heady fragrance of yeast biscuit and fried chicken greeted her growing appetite. “It looks wonderful.” She pushed the drumsticks aside to reveal chunks of crisply browned fried potatoes. A plump, inviting orange nestled in a corner of the box, a sweet promise of dessert. Her mouth watered as she brought up the buttery biscuit to take a bite.

Martin was obviously pleased by her enjoyment. He waited for her to taste and exclaim over the biscuit and the chicken before beginning his own meal.

Nancy brought out sausage and thick sliced bread. She and Tom ate with equal relish.

They chatted easily about the town and the weather and what Kathleen could expect of the winter climate. It was good they had brought their thick quilts and sturdy winter coats from St. Louis. Blizzards and heavy snow were common to this valley.

Martin doted upon her encouraged by her approval of his lunch.

Though she found his attention pleasant she could not resist an occasional glance above the tops of red and yellow wildflowers to where Collin sat deep in conversation and looking at ease with his small group. Had he even noticed her?

If the entire afternoon passed without a word to each other, it would be a shame. But would she find a way to get away from Martin without arousing his jealousy?

Her chance finally came when Nancy stood up and dusted her skirt. “I want to introduce Kathleen to some of the church ladies.” She gave Tom a playful nudge. “You two men go play horseshoes for a while.”

Tom seemed eager for a game.

Martin hung back. After a reluctant look at Kathleen he finally followed.

Nancy sucked in a deep breath of the sun-warmed air. “Isn't this fun?”

“It's beautiful up here.” Kathleen took in the vibrant colors of the meadow topped by the rounded granite of the mountain peak.

“Better enjoy it while you can. The first snowfall will be here before long.”

The ladies stood together in a large mingled group their conversations rising and falling like the tinkling of chimes in the wind.

Nancy moved in drawing Kathleen with her. She was introduced, questioned, and seemingly approved, probably by her position as Nancy's friend and as a shopkeeper's daughter.

Kathleen bided her time keeping an eye on Collin while working away from Nancy. When she reached the edge of the group she was able to slip away unnoticed. She stopped several times collecting handfuls of wildflowers while edging closer to where Collin sat.

He excused himself from his companion and stood.

Kathleen met his gaze and felt as transparent as glass. Her cheeks grew warm. She seized the opportunity to find out more about this young man who had captured her interest. “I'm glad you came. Are you enjoying yourself?” She tried to sound casual.

He tipped his hat. “I am enjoying myself. And you?”

“I've had a very nice time. Nancy and Tom are very good company.”

“And your own companion, Mr. Long? Isn't he good company?” He raised his eyebrows.

“He was the only man kind enough to ask me to come.”

“I take your point. Martin was the only smart man in the whole town. I have to admire him for that.”

“I get the feeling that he's eager to find himself a wife,” she said, and felt her face warm under Collin's scrutiny.

They strolled towards a stand of pine trees.

Collin jammed his hands into his pockets. “Are you eager to find a husband?”

“No. Not at all. I would have to know a man very well before I made that decision. My parents had a wonderful marriage. I would never settle for less. What do you think of the pastor?” she asked, changing the subject.