The Jewel of His Heart (12 page)

She chuckled inwardly at the rough sketches she had made for Josh. It had been fun sitting there bantering with him, though she thought he used her input as an excuse to be with her. Being so near him allowed her to really get a close-up inspection of him. She thought about his wide forehead and bushy eyebrows and small eyes—unusual golden-brown eyes. His hands were not large but nice and solid, just like his barrel chest. His upper lip had a delightful curve to it, but she hadn’t been expecting the kiss. She felt heat rising in her neck just thinking about it. So that’s what it felt like to be kissed by a man. She had to admit she liked the way his lips tasted. The kiss had sent a thrill right through her.

The sound of crackling brush brought her back to the present. She looked around and hoped it wasn’t some wild animal. Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement, and a rider appeared out of the woods, pulling his horse up sharply in front of her. Startled, she straightened. It was Wes.

“What were you trying to do, frighten me?” She tried to sound confident, but her heart thumped against her ribs.

“Well, lookee here. If it ain’t Miss High-and-Mighty. Are you looking for an escort back into town?” He edged his horse closer. His stare seemed to go right through her prim cotton blouse, and suddenly she realized she’d forgotten the woolen coat she’d borrowed from Marion.

“Indeed, I don’t. Just leave me alone.” Juliana now wished she’d gone back through the camp instead of the forest. At least in the valley it was wide open. Here she was trapped.

“I think you just better start speaking a little more kindly to me. You’re out here all alone in these woods.” His eyes slithered over her body, making her feel exposed somehow. “My goodness, you’re wearing men’s jeans?”

“So what if I am?” Juliana shuddered slightly. “Out of my way, Wes, or I swear . . .”

“Or what?” He swung his leg across his saddle and slid off the horse’s back. He reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Juliana winced. The tobacco smell of his breath disgusted her, and she stiffened.

He placed his hand on the back of her neck, pulling her close to his face. “I’ll teach you to turn a man’s kisses down twice!” He leaned down to kiss her, but she twisted against him, and the top button on her blouse popped off.

Her eyes narrowed with anger. “Stop it! Take your hands off me!”

But Wes only laughed and pulled her tighter. His eyes flicked over her again. She jerked away, trying to free herself.

“Feisty, aren’t you? That just makes it all the more fun,” he said.

Juliana yanked hard, and the two of them tripped, falling hard onto the ground. She felt a sharp stab in her shoulder. Wes’s eyes showed surprise, probably at his good fortune to be lying almost on top of her. She thought she heard another person call out, or was it wishful thinking? Maybe it was Josh coming to bring her coat to her.

“Wes, get off her! Have you lost your addle-brained mind?” An older man dressed in miners’ garb strode up next to them and yanked Wes back.

“Aw, just having a little fun, that’s all. I was trying to steal a kiss, and we tripped over the rocks.” He moved away, red-faced.

The older man reached down to assist Juliana up from the forest floor. She was trembling, mostly from anger.

“You all right, ma’am? He didn’t hurt you none, did he?” The miner took a long, hard look at her. He had dark hair, a medium build, and a week’s worth of beard and shaggy hair. But at least he’d stopped Wes.

“I–I think I’m okay.” She rubbed her wrist. Her shoulder and arm smarted too, but she said nothing.

“Of course I didn’t hurt her. I was just trying to teach her not to be so stuck up,” Wes grumbled.

He looked madder than an old bandy rooster, Juliana thought. “Wes, git on your horse and high-tail it outta here before I come after you myself!” The man waved his arm at Wes.

Wes turned to Juliana. “Uh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t gonna hurt you, honest.”

Juliana only glared at him. Wes shuffled toward his horse, picked up the reins, and was on the horse’s back in a hurry.

“Here, let me help you get back up on your horse,” the miner said, reaching out to her, but Juliana backed away.

“I don’t need your help.” Juliana scrambled back up onto Choco’s broad back. She looked down at the older man, who had blue eyes beneath dark, worried brows. “But thank you for saving me from that reprehensible man. I do hope he is not your son.”

“Fortunately, no, he is not. I never had a son. Just a daughter, and I wouldn’t want her handled like that. He gets a little hotheaded at times, fancying that he’s popular with the ladies.”

“Don’t make excuses for him.” Juliana spat the words out like a bad taste in her mouth.

“I don’t excuse his behavior. But I didn’t get your name.”

“It’s Juliana.” She held the reins in one hand and the top of her blouse in the other.

“Pretty name. I work in the mine over at Yogo Creek. I’m glad I happened along when I did. I really don’t think he would have harmed you.” He lingered, looking up into her face a little longer before mounting his own horse.

“You men are all the same, taking up for one another, but thanks anyway.” She flicked the reins across Choco and tore through the forest, anxious to get back to civilization. She would never take this trail alone next time, if there was a next time. Her back was just starting to hurt when she realized she hadn’t gotten the miner’s name.

14

After leaving Choco at Tom’s livery, Juliana practically ran down the boardwalk and up the hotel stairs to her room, then threw herself across the bed. She closed her eyes, wanting to dream about the kiss with Josh and how delicious his lips felt against hers. Gosh, it was wonderful. Had he thought the same about hers? She’d never felt like this before, and even now her heart skipped a beat when she remembered how he’d called her Jewel.

She rolled over and looked up at the ceiling, placing her hands behind her head. She wasn’t sure what to think of Wes and his crazy way of trying to kiss her. She was glad that miner had come along when he did. Something was awfully familiar about him, but she couldn’t think of what it was.

A gentle tapping at her door made her sit up on the edge of the bed, and she made an attempt to smooth her hair back in place. She didn’t remember losing her hat. “Who’s there?”

“It’s me—Marion. May I come in?”

Juliana forced a smile as she pulled open the door.

“I wanted to see what you had planned for—” The look in Marion’s bright blue eyes held surprise. “My goodness! What’s happened to you? Are you all right? Are you hurt?” she said, reaching out to touch Juliana on her arm.

“If you’ll slow down with the questions, I’ll tell you. Choco threw me, that’s all.” She rubbed her sore backside.

“Oh really? That doesn’t sound like Choco at all.” Marion’s eyebrow raised in question. “Let me see.” She turned Juliana slowly around. “How did you get the tear in the back of your blouse? I can see blood through the material.”

Juliana looked away with Marion still holding her arms. “It’s nothing, really.”

“Is that right? So why is the top button on your blouse missing?” Marion tapped the toe of her shoe against the hardwood floor, her hands on her hips.

Juliana looked down, unbuttoned her blouse the rest of the way, and removed it. Marion gasped when she saw her back.

“All right. I had a little scuffle with an odious cowboy.”

“Let me get a closer look at that cut. You’re bruised! Now tell me, what cowboy are you referring to?”

Juliana winced when Marion touched the spot on her shoulder. “His name is Wes. I rode out to Josh’s camp to pay him the money for Mama’s burial. Later, I was taking a shortcut from his ranch back to town, and Wes appeared from out of nowhere.”

“What did he do to you?” There was fury in Marion’s normally sweet voice. “If he harmed you, we are going to Sheriff Wilson right now!”

A nervous giggle escaped Juliana’s lips. “He didn’t do anything. He wanted a kiss because I turned him down for a date the other night.” Suddenly Juliana felt the sting on her back.

“Oh, honey, come sit down. I think you’re bleeding.”

Juliana let herself be led to a chair by the window. Her arm was hurting as well, probably from when she’d fallen. Marion walked over to the pitcher sitting on top of the dresser and poured some water in the basin, then took a washcloth and began to gently blot her back.

“I’ll be right back with some salve to put on that cut. Don’t move an inch.” She left the room but was back in two seconds with a jar of cream. It had a cooling effect on Juliana’s back, and she let herself relax, closing her eyes to the ministrations of Marion’s fingertips.

“There. I think that will help it heal quickly. So, tell me about Josh. Did he take the money?”

“He wouldn’t even think of it.” She took another blouse out of the bureau drawer. She was down to two now. Then she slipped her pants off and donned a skirt.

“I’m not surprised at all. I told you before that I think he likes you.” Marion folded the ruined blouse neatly. “What are you smiling about?” she asked, looking at Juliana.

“Oh . . . nothing. But I forgot your coat at Josh’s ranch. I’m sorry.”

“What? You mean to tell me you went to the ranch? I thought you were only riding to his camp,” she said with a demure giggle.

“That was my intent, but he wanted my opinion on the layout of his new kitchen.” Juliana made a nonchalant half-twirl, the navy full skirt falling softly against her legs, and picked up her hairbrush.

“What would you know about something like that? I hope you told him you hardly ever touch a pot or pan unless forced.” Marion laughed.

“Don’t be silly. I can cook, at least a little.” Juliana gave a pouting look to her friend. “Anyway, I gave him some advice about what to put where. He has a nice place, though it’s a work in progress.” She looked out the window.

“Is that all that happened?” Marion asked.

Juliana answered quickly, “Actually, no.” But she was not about to tell Marion about the kiss or the nickname. “He showed me some sapphires he found. He might go into a mining venture with another fellow.”

“Mmm . . . somehow I get the feeling you’re not telling all there is to tell, my friend.” Marion poked her finger into Juliana’s arm teasingly.

“Nope. That’s about it. I don’t have time to be courting anyone. I have to make my way right now.”

“What about Mark? I thought you liked him.”

“I do, but as a friend. I enjoy his company, that’s all. What about you, Marion? I told Josh you were available.”

“You didn’t!” Marion sputtered.

“I did. I think he’s looking for a woman closer to his age. I’m just a kid to him.” Juliana knew this was a half truth. She knew Josh liked her, or he wouldn’t have kissed her or said those things. Would he? She knew very little about men, except that most were not trustworthy, and that one certain man had raised feelings in her she didn’t know existed.

Marion’s face went pink, and her blue eyes sparkled. “I can’t believe you told him that. I don’t need you to play matchmaker. I have to admit it, though, he’s attractive in a strange sort of way.”

Juliana was not expecting this reaction from her. For the first time she thought about her friend in a different light. Marion was a young, vivacious woman still in her twenties who would be interested in finding a husband.

“Marion, would you like to walk over to Helen’s to see how her daughter’s friend is coming along? I can fill you in on the last meeting of the social club while we walk.”

“Are you sure you feel like it?”

“A little bruise is not going to keep me inside. I feel better now, and it’s a beautiful day.”

“I’d like that. Helen is a really nice lady. And I wonder how Jane is doing. I hope she’ll be okay. She was hit pretty hard from what you told me. Hey, why don’t we stop in the kitchen and pack up some of the fresh cookies that were baked today and take them to Jane?”

“Good idea. All kids like cookies. But I wish I hadn’t left your coat at Josh’s. I’m sorry.”

“No matter. It’ll give him an excuse to come back to town to see you,” Marion said.

“I don’t know about that. He may try to find you.” Juliana flashed a grin and walked out into the hallway as Marion swatted at her in feign embarrassment.

It was a beautiful day for a walk, and the two chatted as they walked past pretty wooden homes, some of them painted white with picket fences around them. Neighbors called out and waved hello, and they returned the greetings. It made Juliana feel like she was a part of the community to be Marion’s friend. Most people in the town hadn’t known her until she started working with Albert at the paper.

“Marion, would you consider selling Choco to me?” Juliana asked with trepidation.

“Well . . . I might consider it. Why?”

“I’d love to be able to ride. He’s pretty gentle and seems to like me, and since Josh wouldn’t take the money I tried to give him for my mother’s funeral, I thought maybe I could buy him . . . if you aren’t too attached.” She turned to get Marion’s reaction.

Marion smiled back at her. “No, I’m not too attached. We have several horses. Yes, my friend, I think we could work something out with you where you could make a payment once a month.” She squeezed Juliana’s arm in her pleasant way.

Juliana stopped on the sidewalk, giving Marion a brief hug. “You’re the best! I don’t know what I would do without you.”

As they continued on their way, she told Marion what she’d missed at the Ladies Social Club meeting.

“That’s a marvelous project to work on,” Marion said.

“To tell you the truth, Marion, I think you’d be an excellent choice as the teacher, and I intend to nominate you.”

Marion seemed surprised. “Me? Why me?”

“Because. You’re intelligent, articulate, and maybe it would give you something challenging to do when you’re not helping your dad with the hotel.”

“You may be better suited, although it would be fun to do something different, something I feel would be beneficial to young minds eager to learn. Reading and writing certainly will open up the world to the miners’ children. It could give them hope that they don’t have to follow in their dad’s footsteps if they get an education.”