The Jewel of His Heart (6 page)

Wes pulled his hand back with a frown. “I want to run an ad in the paper for horse wranglers. I know a lot of the miners do a bit of both around these parts.”

“Juliana, will you write up his ad? I’ll see to it that it gets in the paper tomorrow.” Albert nodded at Wes, leaving Juliana to take care of the matter.

Juliana swallowed hard, opened her tablet, and took a pencil from the tin can. “Tell me exactly how you would like the ad to read.”

“Now, hold on a minute. We need to get acquainted, don’t you think? Are you from these parts? I don’t recall ever seeing you.” She swallowed hard and said, “I lived here awhile . . .”

“Well, your mama must have kept you under lock and key, or I would’ve come calling.”

“Is that so?” Her heart lurched at the mention of her mama. “Now, tell me what kind of pay and experience you want placed in the ad,” she said briskly, hoping he would drop the subject.

“Not so quick, missy. How about I drop by and take you to dinner at the hotel tonight? They have good food, and I’m not such bad company.”

“Thank you, but no.” She stared at the paper and started coming up with the verbiage for the ad. She could feel his eyes boring down on her. “Why don’t you take a seat, and I’ll write this up.”

“Okay, have it your way.” Reluctantly, he pulled up a chair and gave her the particulars for the ad. “You have beautiful handwriting, Juliana.”

“Thank you. I’ll read it back to you now.” When she was through, she noticed Albert out of the corner of her eye appraising the situation but continuing to work. “How much do we charge for that, Albert?”

“Two bits for the week. Then if you need to run it again, you’ll have to stop by and let me know.”

Wes agreed on her short write-up and flipped two bits down onto the desk, all the while never taking his eyes off Juliana. He strode toward the door, opened it, and did a half turn. “I’m not giving up on that date, you know. I’ll be back, rest assured.” He tipped his hat without even looking at Albert.

“Good day, Mr. Owen,” she replied. Relieved that he was finally gone, Juliana carried the write-up to her boss for inspection.

“Never did care for him much. Not exactly sure why,” Albert said, taking the paper from her.

“He certainly is forward, and he made me feel a bit uncomfortable.”

“I was watching and listening. You handled yourself very well, very businesslike. I think we will get along just fine.” He read over the write-up. “I approve. You have a natural writing style.”

His words warmed her heart. The rest of the morning flew by with few interruptions. Earl, the general store owner, wanted to run an ad of the newest sewing machine available, and a young boy of about twelve dropped by to see Albert about delivering papers.

Juliana left them alone to talk and went about tidying up the desk and surrounding area. Staying busy was best for her. It took her mind off her troubles and the future.

When Marion came by at noon, Juliana was surprised at how quickly the time had passed.

“I brought you some fried chicken and fruit because I know you wouldn’t stop to eat otherwise.” Marion opened the basket and started laying out lunch. “Mr. Spencer, I’ve enough for both of you.”

“Thanks, Marion, but I promised my wife I would be home for lunch.” Albert paused. “I didn’t know you and Juliana were friends.”

Marion glanced at Juliana. “Yes, good friends. You’ll find Juliana is a hard worker,” she said while she spread a napkin across Juliana’s desk.

Juliana felt pleased her friend would endorse her.

“I’ll take your word on that, Marion.” He winked, then lifted his coat off the peg by the front door. “You ladies have a nice lunch.” He went out the door and disappeared down the sidewalk.

Marion couldn’t wait to find out about Juliana’s first day. “How’d it go?”

Flashing her friend a big smile, Juliana answered, “Wonderful, really.” She decided it was best not to mention her encounter with Wes.

After work, Juliana walked outside and tied her bonnet while Albert locked the door behind them. When she turned around, she saw Wes watching them, but she looked away and fell into step with Albert down the boardwalk. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Wes untie his horse from the hitching post and lift his hat in greeting. She didn’t want to encourage him with even so much as a look, but she could feel his eyes on her.

7

Josh glanced around the dining room after being seated, unconsciously looking for the dark-haired young girl with the big blue eyes. She had told him she was staying at the hotel since her mother died, hadn’t she? He unfolded his napkin and placed it in his lap, thinking it would be nice to have dinner with her. He should have already headed back to camp to check on Andy, but he halfheartedly hoped he could connect with the girl. She made him feel something he hadn’t felt in a very long time. The deep sadness in her large eyes conveyed a longing he felt an urge to respond to. He figured she was quite a bit younger than him, unless he missed his guess. What would she possibly see in a short, stocky sheepherder and a man several years older in the first place?

He did get his hair trimmed, but not as short as he kept it while on his father’s ranch. His hands were a lot rougher now from hours spent building his cabin, shearing sheep, and mending fences. He’d never worked so hard in his life before he moved to Montana.

On his father’s big ranch, most of the really hard labor was carried out by hired hands. But doing most of his own work gave Josh a feeling of accomplishment and worth. He couldn’t afford any hired help other than Andy.

A waiter came and took his order, promising to bring him a fresh cup of coffee, and Josh settled back in his chair, keeping an eye on the front door for Juliana. He was halfway through his meal of steak and potatoes when he looked up and saw her making her way down the stairs into the foyer, looking so young and innocent. He put his fork down, pushed his chair back, and hurried into the foyer. She was heading toward the front desk away from him, and he watched her from the back, admiring the gliding way she moved. She was light on her feet, and her skirts created a gentle whisper from the swaying of her hips. Her thick hair fell in lush, dark curls down her shoulders.

“Juliana,” Josh called out.

Juliana paused, turning halfway. “Hello, Mr. McBride. It’s good to see you again.”

“Please, could you call me Josh?”

She smiled back at him. “I believe I can do that . . . Josh.”

“Have you had dinner?”

“Matter of fact, I have.” Juliana stood primly, holding her hands together.

“Too bad. I was going to ask you to join me.” Josh couldn’t believe those words had just tumbled out of his mouth. She didn’t really know him. Why would she have dinner with him?

“Another time, perhaps?” Her lips curved in such a sweet way that he could only stare at her pink, upturned mouth. She seemed in no hurry to leave.

“I’m sorry. I guess I should have asked if you were on your way somewhere.”

“Actually, no. I was just going to go sit in the parlor to get out of my room for a spell. There are a few books in there I’d enjoy reading.”

Josh liked the fact that she was a reader. Many a night he’d sit by the fire after a long, cold day and read before going to bed. A hazy vision of Juliana sitting beside him reading, firelight illuminating her face, popped into his mind. He blinked his eyes and mentally shook his head.

“Well, then how about dessert? I hear the apple pie is excellent.”

She gave him a lopsided grin. “You are persistent, aren’t you?”

Josh cleared his throat. “Only when I need to be.”

“And is this one of those times?”

Her blue eyes twinkled with delight at teasing him, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for her to do, making her seem older than her youthful face indicated.

“I eat alone all the time, except when I’m at the camp with Andy. So how about it? We could ask if they have ice cream to put on top of the pie.” He hoped that might tempt her to come sit with him awhile.

Her eyes widened. “Now you’re talking.”

“Must be my lucky day!” Josh took a step forward, offered his arm, and guided her to his table, where the half-eaten steak lay waiting. He wondered what he would say to her now that she had accepted.

He ordered another piece of pie and coffee, then settled Juliana across the table from him. He noted that the tiny blue flowers of her calico dress brought out the color of her eyes. His eyes slid down to her hands, which were red and chapped. She had long, slender fingers with small oval nails. Fingers that shouldn’t have to work like that.

Josh shook his head slightly to clear his head. What was wrong with him? She was just a mere slip of a girl, he would guess barely seventeen, but a woman just the same. Suddenly, Josh’s throat felt tight and dry as burnt toast. He tried hard not to let his nervousness show.

“Will you be staying here or moving on now that your mother is gone?”

She clasped her hands on the table with a demure look. “I have a job working at the
Lewistown Gazette
.” The pupils of her eyes were large with enthusiasm, and it was all he could do to drag his eyes away from them. He didn’t want to scare her off. Not this sweet young girl. Her eyes spoke of past hurts in her life. She apparently needed something or someone to believe in.

“You don’t say? That’s great. I try to read the paper and catch up with all the news whenever I’m in town. Do you enjoy it so far?”

“I’ve only worked there a couple of days, but I find it very interesting, and I would much rather read and write than wash clothes!” She looked down at her pie, picking at the flaky crust with her fork, and added, “It gives me a feeling of security as well. I can’t be beholden to the Stocktons indefinitely.”

“You have a lot of pride for such a young woman.”

“Mama taught me to work hard at everything I do and not to be dependent on others.”

“‘If a man won’t work, neither shall he eat.’” Josh pushed back his plate and reached for his pie.

“What?”

“Never mind. I admire that in you, Juliana. It takes a tough individual with strong convictions to make a living here in Montana. Between the weather and the space, it can be a very lonely place.” Josh was thinking of himself in the past winters. The brutal cold and harsh winds were trying things to deal with, especially without a partner to warm the lonely winter nights. “I’m surprised you intend to stay.”

“I really don’t have anywhere else to go. I have no family to speak of, and my father went to the Colorado gold mines a long time ago. Mother and I stayed in Montana. Ever since my father decided to mine for gold and left when I was ten, we never knew where our next meal would come from. So Mother took in miners’ laundry to keep our heads above water.” Juliana looked down at the table, avoiding Josh’s eyes. “I don’t want to have to live that way. Miners go from camp to camp. I would never want to marry a miner. The work is backbreaking, and there’s little promise of any future.”

Josh stiffened at her comments. Maybe he could be the one to change her mind about mining. “I don’t know, some people have become very rich . . . So, you don’t know where your father is?”

“I don’t even know if he’s alive, and I’m not sure it would matter now.”

The anger in her voice surprised him. Changing the subject, Josh told her about his dog, Shebe, and how much she loved the baby lambs. He could see the relief on her face and was glad he hadn’t asked more about her father.

They finished their dessert, and after paying the waiter, Josh insisted on walking her to the bottom of the staircase.

She paused before going up. “The dessert was wonderful. And thank you for the conversation.”

Josh took a deep breath and exhaled. “It was my pleasure. I hope to see you again before I go back to the ranch.”

“Good night, Josh.”

He liked the sound of his name on her lips. “Sleep well, Juliana.”

Back in his room, Josh peeled off his boots, placing them next to his bed. He stripped down to his long handles and crawled under the heavy quilts of the lumpy feather bed. Folding his arms behind his head, he wondered about the lovely Juliana. He’d met beautiful women before, and while he didn’t consider her perfect in that sense, her lovely face reflected an inner beauty and strength, though he was sure she wasn’t aware of it. That made her all the more appealing to him.

Maybe he would do a little investigating on his own about her father, or help her find any family that was left. She was all alone in the world. A bit like he’d felt when he’d left his family in Colorado, though it was his own choice.

Eventually, he drifted off to sleep with the image of Juliana’s shining blue eyes floating through his thoughts.

8

“Juliana, I’d like you to attend the Lewistown Ladies Social Club meeting this afternoon at two o’clock, and try your hand at writing an article for tomorrow’s edition.” Albert hunched over his cluttered desk, trying to decide what his headline would be. “I’ve been thinking you may be capable of more than just running errands and filing. Think you can handle that?” He paused in his work as she hung her coat and bonnet on the rack near the door.

“I certainly would like to try. What is this about?”

“That’s what I want you to find out. It’s a small group of busybodies, mostly made up of the town’s most influential wives. I try to give them a small column occasionally in the paper, mainly to publish what their next project for the town will be. It makes them feel good and puffed up with humanitarianism. But I’m thinking they need a female point of view for the column.” Albert’s eyebrows made a furrow in his forehead above his spectacles. “We want to keep them happy.”

“We do?” Juliana detected a hint of truth to his humor.

“Indeed we do. There’s nothing like a pack of women breathing down your neck. I think they’re up to something.”

Juliana bent her head down, trying to hide her smile.

“Where do they hold their meetings?”

“At the church three blocks down on the left.”

“That should be interesting. I look forward to it. Are you sure you don’t want to sit in on their meeting?” She giggled under her breath, walked over to the potbellied stove, and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Would you like more coffee?”