Diantha

by Zina Abbott

  Hank blew out a breath he did not realize he had been holding. Diantha stepped into his embrace and pressed her forehead against his shoulder. He tightened his arms around her and felt her body tremble with emotion. “I’ve made you cry, Diantha.”

  “These are tears of joy, Hank.” Diantha straightened up, wearing a tenuous smile and sniffed as their gazes locked. She quickly turned her face aside. “Unfortunately, I do not cry prettily.”

  “I have witnessed tears on you before, my love. You are always beautiful to me.”

  Diantha turned back, this time her smile wider. “You do have a way with words, Hank. What makes them so special is I know they come from the heart.”

  “You are my heart, Diantha. You have no idea how happy you have made me.” He reached up and brushed out of her face a lock that had escaped her chignon. “It will be difficult for me to be so close to you, knowing I must wait. Would you consider it too forward if we were to seal our agreement for me to court you with a kiss?” The way her smile blossomed on her face intensified his longing to hold Diantha and never let her go.

  “No, Hank. I don’t consider it too forward. I more than welcome your kiss.”

  Hank once again pulled Diantha in his embrace. Joy and satisfaction surged through him as her arms tightened around his neck. Lips parted, he canted his neck as he prepared to kiss his love, his sweet Diantha.

  “Stew’s hot. Best to eat it right quick.”

  Hank and Diantha broke apart. His one arm still behind her waist, they both turned to see Elmira wiping her hands on her apron as she stood in the open doorway leading to the hotel lobby. She eyed them with a knowing gleam. She turned as if to return to Diantha’s living quarters behind the lobby.

  “Buck’ll bless the vittles while we wait. He prays short, so you ain’t got much time.”

  Hank watched the doorway until Elmira disappeared from view and he heard her footsteps fade. He turned to see Diantha smother a laugh behind her hand. Huffing out a quick laugh, Hank shook his head. “That Elmira is a character, but I like her.”

  “I know. I must admit, I have not enjoyed such good food in my hotel since my former cook left Wildcat Ridge.” Diantha sighed in resignation. “I supposed we should go.”

  “Oh, no, Diantha.” Hank once again coaxed her into his arms. “I will not be cheated out of my permission-to-court kiss.” Hank pressed his mouth against Diantha’s soft and willing lips. He felt the warmth of longing course through him. He had spent the past hellish weeks dealing with the grief of losing his brother and suffering through the miserable conflict with his demanding father. Now, with Diantha in his arms, Hank felt like he had returned to heaven on earth.

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  Chapter 23

  ~o0o~

  October 31, 1884

  B uck whistled a lively tune as he drove away from the Dowds’ former cabin on Miners’ Row. Next to him, Hank, his arms folded and body slumped on the wagon bench, closed his eyes and yawned. With a smile of satisfaction, he turned his attention back to Mabel and Charley. His heart felt lighter now he had the cabin put back together the way it had been. He even returned to its original spot the small stove that had come with the place and been moved to the big bedroom.

  Buck grinned at Hank. “Been a while since you worked like this, right?” He watched Hank straighten up in his seat and stretch.

  “Must be. Considering the months I spent making and hauling bricks, I would have thought this wouldn’t wear me out like this.”

  “I’ve kept you working pretty hard. I can’t thank you enough, Hank, you stepping away from your store like you did. Not sure I could have gotten the walls dismantled, the parts of the cabin that go to Elmira loaded up, and the rest put back together before today without your help. I figure now the cabin is done, I can work on the new place and have it put together by tomorrow. At least Hilaina will be finished with the Friday wash when we return.”

  “Glad to do it. I’ll have to admit, I’m going to miss Elmira’s cooking once she moves out of the hotel and into her new home.”

  “I’m lucky there. Since I’ll be staying in the laundry building, Hilaina insists I eat with them every day I’m in town.” Buck tensed when, after a pause, Hank asked him about the matter that had been pressing heavily on his mind.

  “When are you going to ask that girl to marry you?”

  “Not sure. I plan to. Thing is, I’ve always worked for Dallin Walsh and knew what my monthly pay was. Working for myself, I don’t know what money will come in from one week to the next. I’m happy to take both Hilaina and her ma on, but I need to be sure I can always find the work to support them along with me.” Buck relaxed some when Hank appeared to settle back in his seat.

  “I can understand that.”

  Buck decided it was time to turn the tables. “I understand you and Diantha are officially courting. When do you plan to marry her?” He glanced over long enough to see the sardonic twist on Hank’s mouth.

  “Guess I have the same concern you do. I’m waiting for my business to pick up.”

  Buck turned the team into the yard. Once he pulled the wagon to a stop, both he and Hank climbed out and moved to the back so they could unload the last sections of the roof. “Glad I picked up that bundle of shingles when I went to the lumberyard. I’ll need them to fill in the gaps once I nail these boards to the rafters.”

  Buck smiled as Hank grunted when he helped lift the section of wood with attached shingles off the wagon and onto the block and tackle Buck had rigged up to lift the heavy pieces on the roof. Buck had already covered the rafters with flat, wide boards which protected the inside of the house in case it rained or snowed. As he had explained to everyone who asked, he wished a double layer of wood beneath the shingles to help hold the heat in better. The challenge was to not make the roof so heavy the walls of the house and rafters could not support it.

  “Elmira ever work out a deal for her sow? I sure don’t look forward to moving animals again anytime soon.”

  Buck laughed and shook his head. “Yes. Don’t know how she did it, but she talked Jasper into allowing her enough land for both the chickens and the sow. I told Olive Muckelrath I’d help her butcher the pigs Elmira sold her, but she said she’d take care of it. She was glad for her portion of the pork she’ll have to sell over the winter. Between that and moving everything from the root cellar over to the new place, the two women have been busy”

  Buck focused on moving the next section of roof until he heard Hank quietly call out a warning.

  “Got company, Buck. Mr. Crane does not look too happy, which suits me just fine.”

  Buck looked up to watch Mortimer Crane climb out of a buggy he had never seen in Jasper’s livery. Suspecting he and the hooligan holding the reins had driven over from Curdy’s Crossing and most recently come from Miners’ Row, the scowl on the man’s face warmed Buck’s heart. It was all he could do to keep from laughing. He glanced over to see Hank, a hammer in his hand and his arms folded, standing next to the wagon, positioned to back him up. He waited to hear what kind of outrageous lies Mortimer would spout.

  What Buck heard first, which did not make him happy, was Hilaina’s voice as she exited the laundry shed. He had already figured out she did not mind well, even when faced with a dangerous situation. However, he would try. “Hilaina, I need you to please take those towels you’ve been working on into the hotel and go stay with your ma.”

  Nothing surprised Buck more than when Hilaina did as he asked without one complaint. With her out of danger, he could focus on dealing with Mortimer Crane. He planned to enjoy this.

  Mortimer pointed a finger at Buck as he advanced.

  “You! You thief! How dare you steal my property. And to think I actually intended to give Mrs. Dowd until next week to be out before I took possession of my house. Fortunately, Mr. Humphries noticed you building something right across the street from the bank. Once he realized you were putting togeth
er materials stolen from the cabin, he fortunately had enough sense to send me a telegram. Now, stop that construction right now, and take everything back to my property where it belongs.”

  Buck folded his arms. “I’m not moving a thing from this property, Mr. Crane. Everything that is yours is still on your property. This here does not belong to you.”

  Buck suppressed a smile at the sight of Mortimer’s indignant expression. A glance at the driver with a menacing look climbing out of the buggy prompted Buck to reach down and thumb the loop off his pistol hammer. Marshal Wentz had made it clear she did not like people wearing firearms while in town. However, Buck had convinced her that between his travel on remote sections of road, especially between Wildcat Ridge and Curdy’s Crossing, and working on abandoned properties such as those found on Miners’ Row, he needed to carry his sidearm. He used his facial expression and body language to warn the man any action on his part would be met with repercussions.

  Having come to within a few feet of Buck, Mortimer jerked his finger in the direction of the addition to the laundry shed. “What do you mean this isn’t mine? It was part of the Dowd cabin. I inspected the house before I told Mrs. Dowd she and that menace of a daughter of hers needed to get out. As for that stove…” Mortimer pointed to Elmira’s cookstove, visible through the open doorway since Buck had not hung the door between the larger bedroom which would now serve as a kitchen and sitting room and the side of the laundry porch. “That stove was in that cabin and was mine.”

  Buck narrowed his eyes. He deliberately kept his voice soft. “No, the stove that goes with the cabin—the one that was originally put in there—is still inside. I even saved the men you hired to dismantle the cabin the trouble of climbing on the roof to remove the stovepipe, because I stacked it right next to the stove. Everything you see here that is not new was bought and built by the late Mr. Dowd. You have no right to it. The cabin is as it was when the Dowds moved in. Better, even, since I used new boards on the one wall to build it back the way it used to be. Based on how the other cabins are built, it only had the one window in the wall before Mr. Dowd cut a doorway for the room he added.”

  Buck tried to feel guilty over witnessing the sputtering Mortimer Crane search for words. However, when the man pointed his finger at him, Buck decided he had had enough. He pulled his pistol out of his holster and spun the cylinder.

  “Speaking of window. That one in the new wall is not fit for a chicken coop. I don’t know where you found it, but it is not acceptable.”

  “Come with the cabin.”

  Buck turned his head slightly. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Elmira. Holding a wooden spoon, she walked up next to him. Buck knew she had no qualms about wielding an ax or knife, especially when it came to butchering. However, when dealing with unruly people, her weapon of choice was her heavy, long-handled wooden spoon. Behind her, her lips pressed together, stood Hilaina.

  A grimace of irritation on his face, Mortimer turned to Elmira. “What are you talking about?”

  “That there winder you done spoke of come with the cabin. These here winders was the ones my husband bought.”

  “That window left in the cabin won’t do. It won’t survive being pulled out of the wall or the trip to Cranesville.”

  Elmira shrugged. “Ain’t me wanted the cabin moved. Done got my rooms here, which suits me right fine. Mrs. Ames is asking right reasonable rent, and Hilaina ain’t got no distance at all to walk to work.”

  A new voice called across the yard, and it took a second for Buck to recognize it as belonging to Deputy Marshal Cordelia Bowles. Buck knew when he had been in Wildcat Ridge in June, she served as the marshal. When she married the former county sheriff, Aubrey Bowles, she stepped down as marshal for Wildcat Ridge to allow him to accept the position. At his insistence, she became his deputy. He glanced behind him and caught sight of the lawwoman striding towards him with Diantha, wearing only a coat, but no hat, neck scarf, or gloves, following behind.

  “Mr. Crane. Mrs. Ames has come to me with the complaint that you are trespassing on her private property. Can you explain what you are doing here and why you have entered her land without permission? And don’t give me that ‘I own this town’ nonsense. We all know you don’t own this lot.”

  Mortimer turned with what Buck guessed was intended to be a conciliatory smile towards the town marshal.

  “Marshal Wentz. Just the person I need to see.”

  It’s Deputy Marshal Bowles now. Don’t make the mistake of thinking I’ve gone soft just because I remarried.”

  “Arrest this man for theft.” Mortimer pointed first at Buck and then at Hank. “Him, too. He has been an accessory to the crime.”

  Buck grinned as the lawwoman, dressed in her customary split skirt, cocked her hip and placed a hand on top of her holstered pistol. He could tell by the disgusted expression on her face she did not take Mortimer’s accusation seriously.

  “Mr. Crane. Mrs. Ames has told me enough for me to know that these men have been in the process of dismantling Mrs. Dowd’s portion of her former home, which was attached to the cabin you assigned to the late Mr. Dowd. These men have restored the cabin to its original dimensions using materials that came with the cabin as much as possible. Where other wood was needed, they used newer wood. You have no valid complaint, sir. The only concern I have with these men is the pistol outside of Mr. Kramer’s holster.”

  “I was just using it to make a statement, ma’am, especially when Mr. Crane’s enforcer looked like he planned to earn his keep. I had no intention of firing it unless I was forced to.”

  Buck lost his smile as Cordelia harrumphed her disagreement. Fortunately, she seemed to focus back on the issue at hand.

  “Be that as it may, I insist the pistol go back into the holster. As for you, Mr. Crane, you have no business stepping onto the property owned by Mrs. Ames. She wants you off of it now, or she will press charges.”

  His pistol back in his holster, Buck eyed Mortimer as he clenched his fists and glanced around, as if looking for an argument the marshal would accept. He pointed to the addition owned by the Dowds.

  “That, madam, is a monstrosity—an outright eyesore. You cannot expect me to tolerate that to exist just across the street from Crane Bank. What’s more, it blocks the view of the scenery from the vantage point of my bank. It is a public nuisance. It must go.”

  Buck watched the woman as she studied the building and stepped to the side to look past the addition at the bank situated to the south across Chestnut Street. She next glanced at Moose Mountain to the east and north. Expressionless, she turned back to face Mortimer.

  “I think the new addition looks rather quaint—better than some of the buildings on your properties. I must admit, it does partially block the view of the hind ends of the mules kept at the Wells Fargo corral. If you don’t like what you see, Mr. Crane, I suggest you keep the curtains in the bank closed and turn your desk to face a different direction. For right now, get off this property and leave these people alone. If not, I will haul you into my jail for trespassing and disturbing the peace.”

  “Marshal Wentz, I object!”

  “Deputy Marshal Bowles, Mr. Crane. Maybe I should lock you up until you get my new name and title right.”

  Mortimer spit his words out through gritted teeth. “Where is your husband? He would be more capable of handling this.”

  The deputy marshal shook her head. “No, he wouldn’t. Object all you want, Mr. Crane. Just get off this land. And, Mr. Crane? If anything happens to these buildings or any of these people, I will come after you first. Unless you want to spend time in my jail, see to it no one bothers anything or anyone on Mrs. Ames’s property.”

  Buck grinned with satisfaction as Mortimer Crane turned and scurried back to the buggy. He, along with the other man, climbed inside and the driver flicked the reins. The buggy turned in the middle of the street.

  As he watched the troublemaker disappear, Buck looked over and noticed H
ank had left his side to join Diantha and the deputy marshal. He still had trouble getting used to having a lawwoman, but in Wildcat Ridge. However, in this town, women held a lot of positions one usually expected to see men fill. He sensed Hilaina walk up next to him and turned towards her as she place her hand on his arm. He looked down at the face that grew more dear to him with each passing day.

  “You made me right proud, you standing up to Mr. Crane thataway, Buck. Figure he’s smart enough to listen to Deputy Marshal Bowles?”

  “Let’s hope so, Hilaina. For the next few days, though, I’ll keep my guns handy and sleep with one eye open.”

  ~o0o~

  After waiting to make sure Mortimer Crane and his hooligan enforcer had left the area for good, Hank trotted over to join Diantha, who had her back to him as she waved farewell to the departing town marshal. “Diantha, are you all right? I think Buck and I could have convinced Mr. Crane to leave, but I must admit, bringing the local law into the matter speeded things along.”

  Still feeling prepared for a battle, Hank felt the anger flow out of him as Diantha turned to him with her typical warm smile on her face. Everything happening on the property right then, including the bantering taking place between Hilaina and Buck, faded into the background as Diantha became his sole focus.

  “I agree, Hank. I am so tired of dealing with that man and his high-handedness, as if I am one of these unfortunate widows that must lease from him. I’ve thought about what you and I discussed and realized that as the owner of the hotel and surrounding property, I need to start acting like it. Why, even on a plantation back home, in the absence of my husband, I could call on loyal servants to help protect my home from intrusion. It is up to me to take steps to rid my property of the unwelcome presence of undesirables, including Mr. Crane.”

  “You don’t need a hotel manager or groundskeeper to do that, Diantha. I’m here now.”

  “Thank you, Hank. I know I can count on your support, and I appreciate it. However, around that man, I need to stop behaving like the weak, dependent female I was raised to be. I need to take the initiative to stand up to him myself. I cannot physically remove him, but I can legally. That is why I went to the marshal’s office.”