Something twisted in her stomach. Did she want Morgan to leave for good? “And we shall continue to work to get that money...both of us, together. Just as Father would have wanted.”
A small chuckle escaped his throat. “You know, I had even thought about trying to find that treasure map Father told us about when we were younger, and look for the buried treasure by myself.”
Melinda smiled as the memory returned. She hadn’t thought of that story for so long. Homesickness washed over her, and she yearned to have her father back, if just for one day. “Do you know he only told us that story to help us believe in dreams? The treasure map isn’t real. There is no treasure buried on our land, Jake. He made the story up so that we would never give, and that we could keep grasping for the unreachable.”
He rubbed his forehead. “I wondered about that, although deep inside my heart, I wanted it to be true. Can you imagine it,” he said as his smile widened, “all of the silver and gold just for us?”
“Oh, and don’t forget about the diamonds.” She laughed as she squeezed his fingers. “It was quite enjoyable to believe it was true, but we cannot live our lives in hopes that it is.”
“This, I know.” He struggled to stand as he held onto his crutch. “So, I suppose I should go work in the shop, now.”
“Yes.”
He sighed loudly. “Forgive me for thinking that I could steal money to help us out.”
“We shall continue to live as honest people, and in doing so, the Lord will bless us, I just know it.”
“I hope you’re correct, Mel.”
As she watched him hobble out of the room, she released a relieved breath. She was able to tackle this situation before it became worse. But, would she be able to tackle the next problem that would surely arise? She, too, wondered if the bank would threaten to take away their home and place of business since she hadn’t been paying the mortgage on the place.
Deep down inside, she wondered if Mr. Drake’s offer would help her out financially. Dare she consider it?
SEVEN
It wasn’t often that visitors came to see Melinda, but when she opened the door and saw Judith standing there, looking so lovely in her baby blue gown trimmed with white lace and matching bonnet, surprise flooded through her. “What are you doing here?”
Judith’s eyes widened and she released an excited cheer. “Look at you!” She grasped hands with Melinda. “You are absolutely breathtaking. I was prepared to see you in your work clothes.”
Melinda laughed. “Well, I’m trying something new for a few days.”
“Does this mean you are giving up your work as a blacksmith?”
“Not entirely.” Melinda tugged on her friend’s hands and brought her into the house. “Would you like some tea? I could tell you all about it. My apologies for not having any biscuits, but I’m not used to visitors.”
“Oh, posh.” Judith flipped her hand. “I don’t expect you to have treats for me. Tea will be satisfactory enough.”
As Melinda poured them each a cup of tea, she told her friend about Mr. Drake’s suggestion on how to make Jake feel more important. Of course, she had to keep back-tracking to explain why they were doing this.
Judith gasped and placed a hand to her throat. “Your brother was truly serious? He would have actually robbed the stage?”
“I’m afraid so.” Melinda frowned.
“Are you in such a financial bind that your brother feels he needs to steal money?”
“Unfortunately, he seems to believe we are.”
Judith sat her teacup down on the saucer as her emerald gaze narrowed on Melinda. “What do you believe?”
Melinda didn’t want to let Judith know her fears. They hadn’t lost their land yet, and she would do all she could to save it. She wasn’t going to give up. “I have faith that everything will work out.”
Her friend nodded, and then picked up her teacup again. “You will let me know if you need money, won’t you?”
Melinda nearly choked on tea, but quickly cleared her throat. She didn’t want to be rude and completely turn her friend down, but she didn’t want to appear as if she was needy, either. “Judith, I assure you, we are fine.”
“So tell me,” Judith placed her teacup down again and folded her arms, “who is Mr. Drake, and why do you have a twinkle in your eyes when you talk about him?”
This time Melinda did choke. My eyes twinkle? How could she explain her confused feelings to her friend? “I beg your pardon,” Melinda said teasingly, “I do not have twinkles in my eye at all.”
Slowly, Judith’s mouth lifted in a wide smile. “Then can you tell me why they are gleaming like diamonds right now?”
Melinda rolled her eyes. “Judith, you are exaggerating.”
“No, I’m not.” She tilted her head. “Does this have anything to do with why I saw you with him last night when Trey and I drove by Gunther Chavot’s restaurant?”
Hitching a sharp breath, Melinda tried not to choke this time. “You saw us?”
“Oh, yes.” Judith chuckled. “He was assisting you up into his coach.” She arched an eyebrow. “Why were you not chaperoned, may I ask?”
Guilt sank deep inside Melinda’s gut, churning her stomach. She blew out a pent-up breath and frowned. “We were together for a business appointment only.”
“That does not matter.” Judith shook her head. “He is an available, handsome man, and you are an unwed, lovely woman.”
“Well, if it makes any difference, I didn’t recognize anyone in the restaurant, so I doubt my reputation will be ruined. I haven’t shown myself in public as a woman for several months.”
“Actually, that doesn’t make any difference.” Judith tapped her fingernails on the table. “Especially, when I can tell by just talking to you that your dinner together wasn’t just a business meeting.”
“Oh, would you stop being ridiculous.”
“Then explain to me what kind of business you are doing with him.”
Inwardly, Melinda groaned. Apparently, she wasn’t going to be able to hide anything from her friend. Not this time.
As Melinda explained to her friend exactly why Mr. Drake was here, and what exactly he wanted from her, Judith’s eyes widened with excitement. Melinda grew frustrated the longer she talked, only because Judith was taking this all out of context.
She continued to talk, hoping to say something...anything, that would make her friend think differently about her association with Morgan. But when she accidentally called him by his given name, Judith sucked in a quick breath and clapped her hands once.
“Oh, how wonderful. This is wonderful news.” Giggling, Judith grasped Melinda’s hands and squeezed lightly. “Trey and I want to meet him. Soon.”
Shaking her head, Melinda tried to think of some excuse to end this conversation. “I assure you, there is nothing between us, nor will there ever be.”
“But Melinda, he knows about your secret. He knows you are a blacksmith who disguises herself as a man, and he still wants to be around you. Doesn’t that tell you he’s very interested?”
Melinda couldn’t stop the fluttering in her stomach, or the way her heart flipped with excitement. She didn’t want to believe. “That doesn’t tell me any such thing. What it tells me is he’s as stubborn about getting my land as I am about not letting him win.”
Judith gave a sharp laugh. “Sounds to me like you’ve met your match, my friend.”
“Indeed, I have, and that worries me. I’ve never had to handle someone like Mr. Drake. He is a hardheaded man.”
“So tell me, when are you going to see him again?” Judith sat back in her chair and picked up her teacup.
“Tonight. He’s taking me to a dinner social at the magistrate’s home.”
Judith grinned in that teasing way again. “How nice of him, and to think, he hobnobs with the best people.” She winked. “I must admit, when I saw the two of you together last night, I thought you made a very handsome couple. Trey even agreed with me.”
&nbs
p; Inwardly, Melinda groaned. “Lord Trey said that, too?”
“He certainly did. He also told me how pretty you looked wearing a gown, and you know how Trey doesn’t give out compliments easily.”
“Indeed, he doesn’t. I feel very privileged to have received one from him.”
“Have you decided what to wear for the social this evening?” Judith asked with excitement in her voice.
Melinda chuckled. “As you know, I don’t have a lot of nice gowns, so I was just going to wear the one I wore at the masked ball.”
“Absolutely not!” Judith placed her teacup on the saucer and stood. She took hold of Melinda’s arm. “Come. You and I are going shopping.”
“No, I cannot afford—”
“My treat.”
Melinda frowned. “I cannot allow you to do that, my dear friend. I’m not one of your charities.”
Judith’s mouth tightened in a line as she folded her arms. “Fine, then. Instead of going shopping, I’ll take you to my place and have you look through my closet. I have several gowns I’ve only worn once. I’m sure you will find the right one for tonight’s event.”
Melinda wanted to turn down her friend, again, but she had seen some of Judith’s gowns, and they were very lovely. She and Judith were about the same size...so why couldn’t she wear one of her gowns? “Are you certain?”
Judith nodded. “Of course. I wouldn’t have volunteered otherwise. Besides,” she patted her belly, “soon I will be round with child, and I won’t fit in those gowns.”
Melinda gasped. “You’re pregnant?” She clutched her friend’s hands. “How exciting.”
Judith chuckled. “Indeed, it’s very exciting. Even Trey is anticipating a child, and that’s after his reluctance to marry me in the first place.”
“That makes me happy.” Melinda smiled. “You let me know if I can do anything to help you.”
Squeezing Melinda’s hands, Judith grinned. “The first thing you can do is come with me so I can show you my gowns.”
“I can definitely do that.” Melinda winked. “Let me tell Jake where I’m going before we leave.”
“Splendid.” Judith rubbed her hands together. “It will be like old times again, like when we were girls.”
It made Melinda’s heart happy to know Judith still thought of her as a good friend, even though Melinda was a working woman. Judith always had such a giving heart. She prayed her friend never changed.
Too bad more people couldn’t have an understanding heart.
NERVOUSLY, MELINDA paced the small living room, eager for Morgan to arrive, and yet terrified that she might recognize someone at this social...or they would recognize her. All afternoon, she tried to convince herself that nobody would notice her as the dirty blacksmith who worked at the Stewart’s shop. People just wouldn’t ever suspect a woman could do that type of work.
Another thing that made her nervous was anticipating the moment when Morgan laid eyes on her wearing this most daring gown. Judith assured her that wearing this ensemble tonight would make Melinda feel elegant and genteel. Judith assured her she would have the confidence needed to socialize at tonight’s function.
Melinda would rather wear a mask.
But she had to admit, she looked very mature wearing this gown. Judith had mentioned that the gown had only been worn twice, yet Melinda still wondered if her friend was fibbing, because it looked brand new.
A decorative beige lace was used as the top layer for the peach silk gown that flowed perfectly over her body. Never before had she seen such a creation. The sleeves were very short, only covering the tops of her shoulders. The round neck was lower on her bosom than Melinda figured it should be, but her friend guaranteed her this was the rage in England right now.
Melinda wore elbow length beige gloves, and had dark gold earbobs and a matching necklace to enhance the gown. Judith’s lady’s maid styled Melinda’s hair in very loose ringlets. She was delighted to know her hair was growing fast, and she didn’t have to wear a wig this time.
Wringing her hands against her waist, she continued to pace the floor. She hadn’t heard from Jake all day, but she’d checked in on him a few times, and he seemed to be handling the shop. This gave her hope that he would finally take responsibility and allow her to become a woman once again. But with her living the life of a woman, would that hurt the family business?
She sighed and frowned. No matter what problems came in her life, all of her decisions still came to that one thing...her father’s shop. If they couldn’t keep paying the bank, they would lose it. She couldn’t allow that to happen. Failure was not part of who she was, and she would fight until her last breath to keep the blacksmith shop running.
And, letting Mr. Drake win wasn’t an option, either. However, it worried her that eventually it would have to be an alternative for being poor and homeless.
Frustration filled her, just as it had always done when she thought over her problems, and she stopped her pacing at her father’s old desk, and placed her hands on the top. Closing her eyes, she tried to hold the turmoil inside of her. Why had her father died, leaving her in charge? Times like this, she felt as if she couldn’t handle the stress.
Growling, she kicked her slippered foot into the leg of the desk, jarring the piece of furniture considerably. Perhaps she shouldn’t have taken out her frustrations by kicking the ancient desk.
She surveyed the damage, hoping it wasn’t a lot. She didn’t have very many things left of her father’s that were sentimental, and this desk was one that held happy memories. She checked one side of the furniture, and then moved her attention to the other side. Immediately, she noticed something out of place. Her first thought was that she’d broken the desk, because a thick piece of wood stuck out of the side, but the more she examined it, the three-by-two inch object was some kind of secret compartment.
Curiosity grew inside of her and she bent closer, moving her finger along the smooth edges. The slab of wood was definitely not broken, but as she pushed her fingers along the edges, a bottom piece popped open—like a trapdoor.
She jumped. Goodness! Who could have thought of such a contraption? Had her father designed this desk to have a hidden compartment?
She kneeled and tried to look up inside the small box. There was some kind of paper inside. Her gloved fingers weren’t any help trying to remove such a small object, so she yanked off one glove and tried again to pull out the paper.
Finally, it came out. The square object had obviously been folded a few times. As she carefully opened it up, she could see the paper was very old...probably as ancient as the desk itself. Hopefully, she’d be able to read what was written on the paper.
Her heart thumped faster the closer she came to opening it. Indeed, the writing was legible, as well as the drawing. From what she could tell, it appeared to be a drawing of where they lived; a layout of the land. Several dots in a row led from one side of the drawing toward the other where it stopped at the large X over the drawing of...a treasure chest?
A gasp escaped her throat. Her father’s stories from yesteryear filled her head. He’d acted like there really was a treasure buried on their land. Although, in her younger years she wanted to believe, the older she grew, the more she realized the stories were untrue. Especially, after they were kicked out of their home and forced to live here at the shop. If her father knew there was treasure buried in the land, why didn’t he try to find it?
Unless...he didn’t believe the stories were true, either. And yet, she held some kind of treasure map. Could the stories be real after all? Or was someone trying to toy with her head? Dare she believe?
EIGHT
Morgan was with the most beautiful woman at the social...and other men knew it, as well. He could tell by the way they hungrily gazed upon her before shooting him a jealous scowl. He loved feeling this type of power, which of course, made him more possessive of Melinda.
She had been chatty during their ride here, telling him about her discussion with
Jake. It relieved Morgan that her brother realized how robbing a stage could ruin him and his sister. Thankfully, she was able to talk some sense into her brother. At least Morgan wouldn’t have to worry about spying on the lad.
He enjoyed how easy it was to converse with Melinda. At first he wondered if it would be uncomfortable between them because of their heated kiss. He, for certain, couldn’t stop thinking about it. Just before the moment their lips had touched, she had practically begged for his help. Now he wondered if she had just wanted to be kissed, or did she finally realize what his offer would do for her and her brother?
Morgan didn’t dare say anything more about the offer, at least not while they were at the social. He’d wait until the ride home. And with any luck, she’d let him kiss her again.
The magistrate and his wife were entertaining people...or at least their gatherings were entertaining. Morgan suspected it was because they had such interesting friends. Lord Barfuss had been all around the world, and had to talk about everything he saw—whether it was an appropriate topic for the women or not. Lady Fitzgerald always seemed to have consumed more alcohol than necessary, which made her a very chatty woman...and loud.
Then there was Mr. Hart. He had always been overly-friendly with the women whether they were married or not. Morgan was surprised that none of the husbands had called out the man for some of the things he’d said in a flirtatious manner. Mr. Hart even tried to get close to Melinda. She just smiled politely and stepped away from him and closer to Morgan.
After they were fed, they adjourned into the music room as Lady Clarence entertained them with her singing. Morgan tried to act interested, but he wanted to gaze upon the lovely lady by his side. She looked so adorable in the peach colored gown with the low-cut bodice. As he studied her, he couldn’t believe he ever mistook her for a boy. She had all the right curves, and they were in all the right places. Her skin was so creamy and smooth, and her eyelashes so long, and her lips so full. Indeed, he couldn’t believe she was able to pass herself off as a blacksmith for so long. People were definitely blind, and only saw what they wanted to see.
The Sweetest Challenge Page 6
