Elizabeth lifted her head. Men never did understand the work that was involved in seeing to their comfort.
“It’s my pleasure to feed someone like you,” Elizabeth said to Higgins. At least someone appreciated the fact that she’d cooked the biscuits and put up jam last summer so they could eat it now. She hadn’t worn her silk dress when she’d picked those wild strawberries, either. “You’re a real gentleman about it, too, Mr. Higgins.”
Mr. Wells gave a snort of amusement.
But Mr. Higgins reared back in astonishment. “Me? You think I could pass for a gentleman?”
“Well, I…Of course.” Elizabeth remembered that she was speaking to a wolfer. Still. “A man can be as much of a gentleman as he chooses to be.”
Jake should have known a woman would be trouble. He’d no sooner gotten married than Higgins was eyeing his wife. Oh, the other man probably thought Jake didn’t know what was going on, but Higgins hadn’t taken his eyes off Elizabeth since he had come in the door this morning.
Of course, Wells hadn’t been much better, but it was pretty obvious that when Wells had been looking at Elizabeth and salivating like a lost dog, he was really more interested in the biscuits that she had been holding than the woman herself.
Higgins, though, hadn’t eaten enough to feed a grass-hopper. Elizabeth probably wouldn’t know it, but Higgins didn’t consider six biscuits to be a full breakfast, not even when he had spread a fair bit of jam on each one of those biscuits and eaten some of the sour cabbage besides.
The problem, Jake realized, was that his friends knew his marriage to Elizabeth was a sham. They’d seen that he wasn’t bedding down with her and they had sense enough to figure that, come spring, Elizabeth would be looking for a new husband.
A woman who could cook as fine as Elizabeth wouldn’t need to look farther than this table for a husband to replace him.
It was all Jake could do to sit and act as if nothing was wrong.
And Elizabeth wasn’t helping any. She kept bringing this to the table and that to the table. She should be sitting down beside him and showing the world that they were bound in holy wedlock. He had left the chair to his right free for her and he’d had to pull up a stump for himself to do so.
Obviously, his bride wasn’t one to settle in quickly, though.
“Have a seat before the biscuits get cold,” Jake finally said. If Elizabeth was going to marry a trapper come spring, it would be him. He might be willing to let her go to a rich man in some city who could give her all the comforts she deserved, but he wasn’t willing to let her go to someone like him unless it was him.
“But—” Elizabeth started to protest.
“If there’s anything else that needs to be brought to the table, you can tell me where it is and I’ll get it,” Jake said as he stood up. He thought he heard his new wife gasp in amazement, but he wasn’t sure. He was too busy pulling the chair out for her so he could show Higgins how a real gentleman acted.
Elizabeth sat down. She wasn’t used to sitting down with company. When she’d cooked for Matthew, they had sat together. But for years, she’d been working in the kitchen, or serving at the table, until the family meal was over and then she’d just eaten a few leftovers as she heated water to wash the dishes. She looked at the two men who still sat at the table and then at Spotted Fawn over by the fireplace. Elizabeth wasn’t sure she knew what to say to any of them.
“Do you think I could learn?” Higgins asked.
It took a second for Elizabeth to realize what the man was talking about. “To be a gentleman? Of course.”
“Teach me.” Higgins asked and then seemed to reconsider. “I mean, I’d appreciate it mightily if you would be so kind.” He stopped and then added, “Ma’am.”
Higgins looked at her triumphantly.
“Well, I—”
“What kind of nonsense is this?” Wells demanded. He looked bewildered. “You planning to take up banking or something?”
“Women appreciate gentlemen,” Higgins stated calmly.
Wells just looked at his friend. “What women?”
“Women. That’s all. Just women.”
“Women appreciate the kind of money we’re making, that’s what women appreciate.”
“Not all women,” Higgins said.
Elizabeth finally understood. “I’d be happy to give you some pointers.” Somehow that didn’t seem to be enough. “And I must say I think your efforts will pay off.”
“You do?” Higgins looked over at her with the most hopeful look on his face.
Elizabeth nodded. “I most assuredly do.”
The room was very silent. Elizabeth realized that not everyone knew about Annabelle Bliss or, if they did, they hadn’t made the connections. She didn’t want to give away any secrets. “Any woman would be pleased.”
By now, Higgins was beaming.
Jake dropped a plate. Fortunately, it wasn’t anything but a tin plate. He couldn’t believe his ears. He’d taken Elizabeth for a quiet, serious-minded woman. She hadn’t seemed to want to take a second husband when she’d taken him. And here she was lining up another one—Higgins.
“We have a busy day ahead,” Jake finally said. He didn’t want to suggest Higgins and Wells leave, but he didn’t want them to stay right now, either.
All pairs of eyes turned toward him. He’d just put a bit more wood in the stove.
“We have to unload the wagon,” he explained.
“Oh, we could help with that,” Higgins offered. “Sort of a thank-you. Nothing to it.”
Jake clenched his jaw. “I can unload the wagon myself.”
“When we get it unloaded, I thought maybe we should go back into town to the mercantile,” Elizabeth said. “We’ll need some things for Spotted Fawn before she goes to school.”
Jake noticed his niece flinch at that news. She looked at him pleadingly.
Suddenly, it didn’t seem so important whether or not he could show Higgins who was the better gentleman. Elizabeth wouldn’t be settling down with either one of them anyway. If she had any sense, she’d be looking for some refined man from town by the time spring came.
The new Miles City banker, Harold Walls, was a widower and likely open to the prospect of marrying again. Or the man who had come here to open the hotel. What was his name? Well, it didn’t matter. Both men were rich and traveled back East whenever the fancy took them. Jake couldn’t compete financially with either one of them.
Then he looked at his niece. He had other things to worry about anyway. “Maybe we could get some lemon drops, too. I’ve heard the children in school all like lemon drops. They probably wouldn’t say no if someone were to offer them one.”
“I don’t need to go to school,” Spotted Fawn said. “I can talk English.”
“You’ll want to learn how to read,” Jake said softly. “I know you have your father’s Bible.”
His niece didn’t answer.
“I wish I knew how to read,” Higgins finally said. “You don’t want to pass up a chance to learn something like that.”
“It won’t be so bad,” Elizabeth said. “You’ll get used to it.”
Spotted Fawn nodded slowly. “I’ll try.”
“Maybe we all should go into town,” Elizabeth said brightly. “I didn’t ask the reverend what you’ll need for your first day in school. I’m sure they’ll know at the mercantile, though.”
“Well, let’s get the wagon unloaded then,” Higgins said.
Jake didn’t refuse the offer this time. If Higgins was determined to help, he would let him. At least, he’d be able to watch the man if they were unloading the wagon together.
Elizabeth was worried. Jake said there was room in the lean-to for most of the goods in her wagon. But, as she recalled what she had there, she tried to remember where she had packed her sewing needles. It would take her at least a day to make Spotted Fawn ready for school. The girl would need to wear pantalettes instead of those pelts she had wrapped around her legs. The
mercantile might have some ready-made ones that weren’t too dear. And she’d also need shoes and stockings. Hopefully, they would have some that fit.
But a new dress for the girl would require some sewing. Even if Elizabeth only put tucks in one of her dresses for the girl to wear, it would take time. She might think of a dye to freshen up the one dress the girl did have, too.
It wasn’t until everyone was ready to leave for Miles City, that Elizabeth remembered Annabelle, and Higgins’s plans to be a gentleman.
“Maybe you should stop by the barbershop first,” Elizabeth said to Higgins as Jake was helping her into the wagon.
The man was on his horse, preparing to ride along with them. “Why?”
“Women like a man with tidy hair,” she said.
“I’ve never been to a barbershop,” Wells offered with a frown. “Your hair just grows back if you get it cut, anyway.”
“Yes, but it grows back more neatly. If you can’t find a barber in Miles City, I’ll cut your hair for you.”
Elizabeth had cut Matthew’s hair for him. She wasn’t as good as a barber, but she’d managed.
“Maybe some other day,” Wells said hesitantly. “Higgins is the one who wants to get all fancy. Me, I’m heading back home.”
Jake wondered how he could have been so blind. It only took one look at Elizabeth bending her head toward Annabelle in the mercantile to know that something was up. Another look at Higgins’s intensely still face as he watched them through the window told Jake all he needed to know. Higgins wasn’t aiming for Elizabeth; he had his heart set on the woman behind the counter inside.
Jake felt relieved for himself, but more than anxious for his friend. He remembered when the three of them—Higgins, Wells and him—had fought off some hostile Blackfeet. They’d been holed up in the Paha Sapa, what some called the Black Hills, for several days and they were running out of ammunition and water. But, even facing death as they were, Higgins hadn’t looked as miserable as he did now as the two of them stood on the porch outside the mercantile and tried not to look in through the window.
That, Jake told himself, was what a woman could do to a brave man.
He took another look at the inside of the store to be sure Spotted Fawn looked comfortable where she sat in the corner with the baby. Elizabeth had already told him she’d need a good hour to finish her business. Then he turned to Higgins.
“Come on, let’s go find out if there’s a barber in this town.” Jake put his arm around his friend’s shoulders. “How bad can it be to get a haircut anyway?”
A half hour later, Jake and Higgins walked back out on the street. The morning was almost over and there were people stepping every which way, going into one shop or another.
“I’ve been scalped,” Higgins protested as he reached up to touch what little hair he had left. They still stood under the overhang that covered the walkway in front of the barber’s shop.
Jake had to admit Higgins looked awfully pink all of a sudden. The man hadn’t done more than trim his beard in the years Jake had known him. Now he was fresh-shaven and short-haired. Why, the man’s forehead was pure white because it hadn’t seen the sun in decades.
“You look younger,” Jake offered by way of consolation. He decided not to mention the fact that the man’s nose was a lot darker now than the rest of his face.
“Who wants to look younger?” Higgins bellowed. “Women are supposed to like a man who’s been around awhile.”
That stopped half of the people walking down the street. At least five women turned around and looked at Higgins. The man turned beet-red, which apparently didn’t make him any more appealing to the women since they all turned back around and continued on their way a little faster than before.
“Neatness. That’s what women like,” Jake said as he rubbed his own neck. He was used to his hair being back there and now there was only air. His hair was cut short enough to compete with that new banker. Of course, Jake’s neck was cold and probably white, too.
Higgins grunted. “I suppose I’ll need to get new boots.”
Jake nodded. “And a new hat.”
Rightfully speaking, Higgins didn’t have a hat now. It was little more than a buckskin bandana he’d used to tie his hair back. It had looked fine when the man had long hair, but it did look odd now.
“It’s an expensive business—” Higgins frowned “—being a gentleman.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
Somehow, though, Jake thought the other man didn’t really mind.
Elizabeth had to look twice before she recognized Higgins when he stepped into the mercantile. If it weren’t for the size of him, she might have needed to look a few more times. No one else was as massive and his height gave him away when his face didn’t.
“Clarence?” Annabelle whispered from where she stood behind her counter.
Higgins’s face went so pale even his nose was white. “I told you I don’t use that name anymore.”
Then Jake stepped into the mercantile, too. He chuckled. “I always wondered what the C stood for. I didn’t think it was for Captain.”
“It could have been,” Higgins protested. “I helped the army out some.”
“Oh.” Elizabeth stared at Jake. It had taken her a minute to find her voice. “You cut your hair, too.”
Jake’s hair was still shining black, but now it had a few waves in it and it framed his face. Someone needed to smooth the strands into place, Elizabeth thought, but it wouldn’t be her. She held her hands firmly at her sides.
Jake looked at her and smiled. “I figured I couldn’t let Higgins make a fool of himself all alone.”
“It’s not foolish,” Annabelle protested hotly from where she stood. “Good grooming is the mark of a gentleman.”
Elizabeth took her eyes off Jake long enough to see Higgins swell up like a peacock. She’d noticed Annabelle had added a pretty brooch to her dress today, too. And set the bun on the back of her head a little higher so she’d look a little younger. The other woman had also greeted Elizabeth as if she knew she would be here today so she may have been hoping to see Higgins, as well.
“Thank you for noticing,” Higgins finally said to Annabelle.
Jake gave a soft snort, not loud enough for Annabelle to hear, but he’d walked close enough to Elizabeth so she heard it.
“Do you need more time?” Jake asked as he stepped closer yet.
“No, but thank you for being gentleman enough to ask,” she replied softly with a grin and watched Jake’s eyes light up with laughter.
Annabelle and Higgins were having a moment of their own.
“You’re just afraid of what Higgins and I would do if we had more time in town.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Even so, I’ve finished with my shopping.”
“You got the lemon drops?”
She nodded. “And a paper tablet with some lead pencils.”
Elizabeth didn’t mention that Annabelle had whispered to her that Mrs. Barker had been in with a petition, trying to get as many parents to sign it as she could. She wanted to prevent Spotted Fawn from going to school with the other children. Fortunately, she hadn’t had many signatures when Annabelle saw it. Maybe the other adults in Miles City would decide it was only fair that Jake’s niece have a chance to have the same kind of schooling that their children had.
The parents would think that, too, if they could have seen the girl earlier as she sat in the mercantile waiting patiently for Elizabeth to finish talking with Annabelle. It wasn’t until they were almost done that Elizabeth noticed the girl had been holding open a small Bible. She clearly couldn’t read, but she seemed to be trying.
Elizabeth wondered how many of the white children in Miles City had that much of a longing to read God’s Word. She was glad Annabelle had seen the girl, too. Maybe that information could circulate around the town along with the petition.
Chapter Seven
Jake was happy as he sat near the fireplace and whittled. He coul
dn’t help but notice that his wife looked happy, too. Elizabeth never referred to herself as his wife, but he found he liked calling her that, even if it was only in his mind. He had begun praying that Elizabeth would grow content with her life here.
He was watching her now as she stood in the light of the coal oil lamp and twisted pieces of old rags into Spotted Fawn’s long black hair. The baby was already in her crib sleeping. Maybe it was all of the effort Elizabeth was putting into getting the baby fed and Spotted Fawn ready for school that was causing the good feelings he was having.
Marrying Elizabeth O’Brian was the best thing he’d ever done, Jake told himself as he paused in his movements. Four different hair ribbons were spread out on the table. The final decision had not yet been made on which one they would use. He doubted Spotted Fawn had ever worn a ribbon before and he knew he wouldn’t have thought to get her ribbons if it wasn’t for Elizabeth guiding them.
It didn’t matter if this woman had come from the East or the West, whether she was used to a soft life or a hard life. She was the woman his family needed; she belonged with them.
Even his niece seemed to know it.
“You’ll be the prettiest girl in school tomorrow,” Jake said as he smiled over at Spotted Fawn, who was sitting in a chair pulled up to the table. She had an old apron tied around her shoulders. She was the only one in the room who didn’t look happy.
“She’s better off not being the prettiest,” Elizabeth said mildly as she wrapped another strand of hair. “She doesn’t need to call any attention to herself. We’ve already talked about it and, the first day, she’s just going to smile a lot.”
Spotted Fawn looked up at him and gave him a smile that was almost a grimace.
“She should just be herself,” Jake said. “The other kids will like her when they get a chance to know her.”
“I’m sure they will.”
Elizabeth didn’t look at him when she said that and Jake had a sinking feeling that his wife didn’t think Spotted Fawn would have an easy time of it in school. Elizabeth had told him about the petition Mrs. Barker had been passing around, but he assumed the woman hadn’t gotten many signatures or someone would have been out to his place to tell him about it by now.
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