by Kari Trumbo
The sigh escaped before she could stop it, and her father shifted in his desk behind her.
“Something the matter, Lenora?”
She couldn’t very well tell him that she’d had a few too many day dreams about a certain rogue Englishman. Her father was far too practical to ever understand the fluttering of her heart, and how she had to throw cold water over it daily. Victor would leave, he’d made that plain, and she wasn’t going anywhere, nor would she succumb to the wiles of a rake.
“That little sigh sounded like Matilda used to when I would gaze into her eyes.”
Lenora giggled, unable to imagine her parents ever relaxing enough to exchange furtive glances.
“Strange that Mr. Abernathy hasn’t been in today, though I know he and Mr. Nelson are working hard to get the livery finished. Many men came to help them so they might finish more quickly. I hope they plan to stick around long enough to return the favors.”
Though Victor needed no help in defending his honor—he had never bothered previously—ire built inside her. Her father had no right to condemn Victor, he’d trusted him with the security of his family. That had to account for something.
“I’m sure Mr. Abernathy and his associate will help the other men. They don’t seem the sort to take advantage.”
“Yes, well, they did manage to get Geoff to lift a finger, so they have my utmost respect for that. I do wonder what they had to do to bribe him. He’d never do it just for the sake of helping someone.”
The night her father had introduced Cort and Victor to the family, Geoff had been wound tighter than a grandfather clock. He’d waited until their guests left, then verbally pounced on Father. Mother had left the room, fluttering her fingers over her chest as if it disturbed her greatly. Lenora had never seen Geoff so impassioned, or so offended.
Everything had changed that night, but change wasn’t always bad.
“Your brother hasn’t been coming home at night. We aren’t sure where he’s sleeping. Your mother doesn’t seem concerned, but I am. I have a reputation to think about.”
Lenora almost choked as she tried to stop herself from scoffing at her father. It wasn’t as if Blessings had too many places Geoff could find trouble. He’d probably just stayed with Victor. She’d ask him … if he ever came in to see her.
“I’d best go up and help Mother.” She stood and slid her stool under her tidy desk. It was little more than two saw horses with a few left-over planks from building their home, but it was hers.
“One moment, while I have you alone down here, dear.” His face turned a bit crimson and she couldn’t imagine why. They had been talking of nothing that would cause embarrassment, unless her father actually did know where Geoff was, and hadn’t been telling her.
“What is it? Have I done something wrong?” Her heart trembled, and she clutched her skirts to keep her hands still.
“I told you Victor came and spoke to me about you, that I trusted him with my daughter.”
Lenora’s own face heated again at the memory. How her father could trust the man still surprised her, and further weakened her resolve to stay away. If her father trusted him…
“I don’t know how you feel about Mr. Abernathy, but your mother is in no mental position to talk to you about … men.”
Lenora gasped, sure that her face would melt with the heat. Why would her father want to talk to her about that?
“I don’t think there is any need to talk at this moment.”
He stood and came to the front of his desk, leaning on it slightly. He’d aged so much since they’d left Boston, with silver streaks adorning the temples of his once black hair.
“I do. Mr. Abernathy may have been a lot of things, and those things put you at risk of losing your heart, dear Lenora. Be wise. If he cares for you, he will wait. Passion can be a wonderful thing, but only if shared between two people who are committed to keeping it that way. I’m afraid Mr. Abernathy knows more about passion than he perhaps ought.”
Lenora wasn’t sure what she should say, even if she could get words past her constricted throat. Passion? Was that what she was feeling toward Victor?
“I don’t know what I feel, Father. But knowing his past, I’ve tried to keep our relationship to nothing more than a friendship.” Despite what her heart wanted.
“The Lord made desires, just like everything else. And just like everything in creation, it can be used for the purpose it was intended, or it can be used in sinful ways. We’ve heard that what Victor did back in England was sinful, but he wants to marry you, Lenora. Then those little sighs and whatever brought them on, aren’t wrong.”
Her father straightened and turned his back to her, shuffling papers. If he was as mortified as she, she couldn’t blame him. The door swung open just then and Victor came in, a bunch of golden flowers with the most delicate petals she’d ever seen clutched in his fist.
“Victor…” she said it without even thinking in her surprise and his eyes lit up. She had yet to use his given name until that moment; he’d caught her so off-guard.
“Good afternoon.” He bowed slightly. “I realized that I would almost be too late to see you today, so I brought you a bit of gold to apologize. It’s the only gold Mr. Winslet will let me near.” His eyes danced at his joke and he made it to her side in a few short steps.
Her heart still raced after the talk with her father and to have the very man they’d been discussing show up left her unsure of what to say, afraid she might accidentally give away something her father had said in confidence. She accepted the little bouquet and its fragrance gently caressed her nose.
“If you have time this evening, I’d like to show you how far we’ve gotten on the livery. Would you walk with me, Lenora?”
Her glance flitted from his intensely green eyes to her father, who was still doing his best to pretend he was alone in the room.
“I still have to make supper, it might be quite late after I get everything cleaned up.”
She was just itching to go for a walk with him after thinking he’d forgotten her all day.
“Take your time. I’ll come back in a few hours to see if you’re ready.”
She’d been counting the minutes all day, what was another few hours?
Victor quickly ate whatever Cort had thrown together; he couldn’t even remember what it was. The sun seemed to set at a doubly slow pace. At this rate, he’d die of old age before he ever got to walk back to Lenora’s door.
Her father had granted him permission to call on Lenora, the first time Victor had ever asked such a thing. In the past, he’d never wished to actually call on any young woman. Preferring to revel in that which he and a young woman could enjoy in the span of a few minutes or hours and then return to his life, still as unattached as before. A few hours wouldn’t be enough of Lenora, a life wouldn’t be enough. He needed that job in the mine to provide for her. He’d get all the money back for his parents, inherit it, and give her an unimaginable life in England. He just had to convince her to agree. There were only seven days left of his original three weeks and it seemed rather unlikely that she would agree in that time.
“Are you going to sit gazing off into the stars all night or are you going over there? I’ll be up at the tent, minding our business.” Cort slapped his hat on and headed for the door. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Victor had to laugh, because Cort wouldn’t have called on a woman at all. It was better that he would be out of the way, back at their tent, now hidden in the woods where the Farnsworth tent had been. They’d set up a few small tables and invited men over to gamble away their findings. The quicker Cort could win their money, the faster Victor could leave California.
He checked the time on his pocket watch. It might not have quite been a full two hours, but he couldn’t wait a moment longer. Victor rapped on the front door of the Land Office. If no one came, he’d go around to the back. Though most buildings with a residence on top had their own exit down the side of the
building, Edward hadn’t wanted that. He’d insisted on a main door in the front and the back exit, but the only way to get up to his family was if someone came inside.
As the door swung open, Lenora’s dark eyes, set in creamy skin, caught him and wouldn’t let go. She was as beautiful as a sunset.
“Father said I might come down and wait for you,” she whispered, her soft lips now drawing his attention.
He’d never lacked for words until that moment. She really was going to join him, by choice. Maybe his odds were better than he’d thought.
“If you’re ready, it’s almost dark and we’ve got nothing but torches at the livery yet.”
Lenora softly closed the door behind her and joined him in the street. Instead of offering her his arm, as he knew every other suitor she’d ever had would’ve done, he slipped his hand around her tiny waist. She gasped slightly.
“Victor—,” she bit her lip.
He pulled her in closer to his hip and gave in to temptation, brushing a swift kiss over her heated forehead. How he wanted to do more, but he wouldn’t. He’d not pressure Lenora as he had others. He’d woo her slowly, thoroughly, until she’d have none other than him. Even if it meant he’d lose his own wager.
She clung to the front of his vest and tipped her face up to him. Her soft lips opened slightly.
“I don’t want you, Victor,” she breathed the words out slowly. The heat in her eyes said otherwise, but he wouldn’t tell her that. That would be giving her too much and she might try to hide her tell in the future.
“So, seven days will pass and I won’t have you on my arm, headed back to England?”
She stepped away from him and clutched her hands in front of her, her lips drawn into a chilly line.
“I won’t follow you to England in seven days or ever. I’m not leaving Blessings.” She walked ahead toward the livery, but it held little actual interest for him. She had to come to England, to meet his mother, to be his bride. It had been the only thing he could think about for eight long months.
“I have to return to England, love. You say you don’t want to be with me, but if there’s any part of you that does, be prepared to leave.”
She didn’t stop her clipped pace just ahead of him, and though he couldn’t find fault in the view, he’d much rather be talking to her.
“Lenora. Stop walking away from me.”
She whipped around on him, eyes flashing in the waning light. The red of the sunset sent playful streaks of burgundy through her hair.
Her soft voice cut him like a knife to the heart, that she didn’t even have to yell to knock him back was just more proof of how thoroughly she had him.
“I am out here with you to see the progress on your building, nothing more. I will never leave Blessings, never. I don’t care about your wealth and there is nothing in me that desires it. I’ve seen wealth. If that was what I wanted, I would stay under my father’s roof forever or marry the nearest miner. Some women want more than a handsome face to look at and a pocketful of money.” She turned on her heel and strode away from him.
He’d been sure he would need the gold and the social standing to make up for his rather colorful past. A woman as good as Lenora deserved better. In England, his behavior was normal, acceptable, she wouldn’t have to worry about the cloud of doubt that would always surround him if he stayed here. Yes, in Blessings, people would always assume he wasn’t faithful to her, but it wouldn’t matter, because he would be.
He dashed to catch up with her. She’d stopped at the edge of their property, now open after felling the trees. She made no move to speak and it gave him a moment to catch his breath.
“This area in front will be the corral. It will be big enough for many horses. The stable will hold ten, but there will be room at the back, in case we ever need to expand. Mr. Mosier, who drives his ox and cart to get the mail and supplies, has already said that he’d rather pay us to keep his animal than have to try to bring feed back every time he goes. He’ll be our first customer. Next time he makes a run to Culloma to get it, Cort will go with him to get us a horse and wagon, so we can get grain and straw whenever we need. Pete, the sheriff, has said that some of his men have horses and nowhere to keep them. It’s a start.”
He wanted her to understand that he was trying to fit in here in Blessings, even if he wasn’t going to stay. The stable was coming along nicely with all the help over the last few days. The structure was up and ready to be painted, they just needed to add doors and then build the fence. He could almost be proud of it, though he’d never planned on having such a business.
A figure appeared around the side of the livery, a tall man with a wide-brimmed hat. He paused for a moment, then headed for Victor and Lenora. Victor didn’t know the man and he slid his hand to her hip, despite her sound of protest, and pulled her closer as he rested his other hand on his six. Blessings might be safe according to Winslet, but until he knew the man, he wouldn’t let him near Lenora.
The man swiped his hat from his head. “Miss Farnsworth.” He reached out and Victor bit back the urge to pull her away from the large smiling man. Lenora placed her hand in his and the man kissed it. Victor squeezed her tighter as anger built up inside him.
Lenora whispered, “Victor, your hurting me.” He released her immediately, chastised by her quiet admonition.
“Thank you for your help in finding out the information we needed, Miss Farnsworth.”
She smiled at him. “It was no trouble at all, Mr. Baird. Have you had the opportunity to meet Mr. Abernathy?”
She was going to introduce him? After he’d been such a surly beast?
“No.” The man heaved a huge smile and thrust his hand out for Victor. He had a firm handshake and honest eyes. “Benjamin, Benjamin Baird. I help with watching the mines.” The man stood back a few paces.
“Victor Abernathy. My business partner Cort and I own the livery.”
Benjamin tipped his hat to Lenora and gave her another boyish grin before he strode off into the darkness.
Lenora giggled at Victor’s side, and he stopped focusing on the bulky guard, turning his attention instead to the beauty still held against his side.
“You were jealous.” Her eyes twinkled as she glanced up at him, her pert lips turned up in a saucy smile.
She slid from his arm, still laughing, and he couldn’t speak. He’d never seen such happiness on her face, such openness. He couldn’t deny her words and he wouldn’t, but what could he do to bring that smile to her face again?
Chapter 8
Lenora’s giggle would follow him to his bedroll, Victor had to do something to get her off his mind, or he’d never sleep. A woman wouldn’t do, but a hand of cards might. He wound his way through town, avoiding any houses and tents with light inside until he reached the confines of the trees. The men were keeping fairly quiet, but he could see the glow of the gambling tent even through the cover of foliage.
Victor ducked inside the tent. Cort, Geoff, and two men he didn’t recognize sat around the old door they’d set up as a table. Cort shuffled the worn deck as Victor sat down at the only empty seat. Geoff scowled up at him as the others nodded in quiet welcome.
“Where have you been?” Geoff drummed his fingers on the table, his color rising with the words.
He didn’t need to answer to Geoff, or anyone else. He’d lived on his own for too long for such nonsense. Especially since Geoff was little more than a boy. Only the respect he had for Geoff’s sister kept him from telling him just where he could go.
“I don’t see that it should matter to you where I spend my evening. I came down here as soon as I was finished with what I was doing. Isn’t this a place for relaxing?” He gestured around the tent, but it only angered Geoff further. Geoff’s face contorted in anger and he slammed his hands down on the table, sending chips flying.
“Keep down your temper in here, young’un, or you can find the door,” Cort mumbled.
Geoff raised a bottle from next to his se
at and took a long pull, his face was ruddy with drink and movements agitated. He was hankering for a fight and Victor had a mind to give it to him just because his blood was up.
“You shouldn’t even be here, Abernathy. Blessings wasn’t supposed to be for you. You weren’t needed. Father should’ve trusted me, he had no cause to hire you.”
It was obvious there was more to his anger than just the fact that Geoff’s father had hired them to keep the family safe. If that were the real issue, he’d be just as angry with Cort, but he’d said nothing to Cort directly.
“And he especially didn’t need to hire two of you.” Geoff growled and knocked back another drink. “Do you think I didn’t notice Cort following me around? I started playing cards with you so that I wouldn’t feel watched all the time. You think I didn’t know that my father hired you to keep an eye on me? That he doesn’t trust me? It should’ve been me protecting my family. Instead, he hired some drunk Englishman and a man with no past. He’s probably some criminal.” Geoff swung the bottle at Cort.
Victor had known Cort long enough that even though he made no visible sign to anyone else in the room, Cort’s hackles were up. Geoff would need to calm down and shut his trap soon, or he’d find himself in the river.
“You might be angry about it, Geoff, but it wasn’t your father who insisted on Cort, it was me. I don’t know why he didn’t just hire someone else when I told him that I wouldn’t come without Cort, but that’s the way I work. It had nothing to do with keeping watch over you.”
“My father sat in the cabin of that steamer for eight months with Mother, all while Cort followed me around like I was some sort of untrustworthy thief. And where did that leave you, Abernathy? Trailing after my sister like a bloodhound. Don’t think I didn’t notice you sniffing. You leave my sister alone. She’s too good for the likes of you.”
It was true, but he couldn’t let it stand. From the moment he’d laid eyes on Lenora, he hadn’t succumbed to any of his old ways. And no wandering brother was going to keep him away from her. How much did a man have to give up before his misdeeds were forgotten?
