by Paty Jager
“Wagner. This is Alan’s oldest daughter,” Isaac said, taking a position just a bit in front of her. “Miss Wagner, this is Ralph Jones, the company store clerk.”
Alamayda hid a smile. It was as if Isaac were putting a wall up between her and the store clerk.
The man’s gaze darted from Isaac to her and back to Isaac. “I see.” His gaze landed on her. “What can I do for you? Isaac made sure your father’s bill was paid.”
Her gaze shot to Isaac.
He cringed.
“Did you use money from his pay to cover Father’s bill here?” Alamayda watched Isaac’s face darken.
She tossed her hands in the air. “Yet one more thing I owe you for.” She turned to the clerk. “How much was my father’s bill?”
He peered over her head at Isaac. She spun around in time to see Isaac shaking his head. “I’ll not be indebted to you or any man!” she exclaimed and glared at the clerk. “What was my father’s bill?”
“Four dollars and twelve cents,” the man said.
Alamayda opened her reticule and dug around until she found five silver dollars. She grabbed Isaac’s hand, turned it palm up, and placed the silver dollars in his palm. “That should cover my father’s bill and the money you spent to feed me on the trip here and possibly your lost wages.”
“Al—Miss Wagner, I don’t want paid back. I did it because your pa was my friend.” Isaac held the money out to her.
She shook her head. “No. I’ll not be beholden to anyone.” Turning her attention to the clerk, she said, “I would like four yards of canvas, three blankets, candles, matches, a small pot, frying pan, plate, tin cup, one set of eating utensils, a turner and ladle, tea, crackers, five pounds of flour, canned milk, honey, baking powder, a small ham, and your smallest container of lard.”
While the man put the order together, Alamayda wandered the aisles. She eyed the men’s clothing. She’d need a set or two of those before she set out looking for the mine. It would make traveling easier. For years after her father left, she’d worn the clothes he’d left behind while plowing and working in the fields. She’d even made some smaller for her sisters to wear when they helped. The thought of wearing men’s clothes meant she’d be doing men’s work…again.
“Miss, I have your order ready,” the man called from the counter.
Alamayda shook her head. It took men’s work to get ahead in this country. She’d work like a man again, and this time, she’d be working for her future and not that of others. She strode up to the counter and opened her bag. “How much do I owe you?”
“Sixteen dollars and thirty-four cents.” The man patted the two bundles wrapped in brown paper.
The total was more than she’d expected, but they were out in the middle of nowhere and the store manager could charge whatever he wanted. Alamayda swallowed the words she wanted to say about robbery and dug into her bag. Between the train, paying Isaac, and now this, she was going to run out of funds sooner than she’d expected. She counted out sixteen silver dollars and four dimes.
Glancing up into the clerk’s eyes, she noticed an interest for the first time. It wasn’t for her, it was the silver she placed in his hand.
Chapter Nine
Isaac didn’t know how much money Allie had stashed in her pocketbook or valise but by the greed shining in Ralph’s eyes, he needed to talk to her about hiding it. He stepped forward, picking up her bundles of supplies. “Come on,” he said gruffer than he’d meant, and headed for the door.
“You know where to come if you need anything,” Ralph said.
Isaac smiled when Allie didn’t reply and the tap of her footsteps followed him.
Out on the street he kept a steady pace to the school house. He didn’t need any more miners thinking Allie needed company. At the school, he stopped and waited for her to open the door.
His gut twisted in rage at the site of her belongings strung all over the room.
“Why would…?” Allie didn’t finish the sentence. She hustled forward, picking up her things and shoving them into her bag.
Isaac set the bundles on a bench by the stove and started helping pick up her things.
“Don’t touch that!” she reprimanded, jerking the garment from his hands.
It wasn’t until it slipped out of his grasp that he realized it was a silky, lacy undergarment. “I was just tryin’ to help.”
“Why would someone come in here and throw my things around? Why?” She shoved fisted hands on her hips and stared at him. Tears glistened in her dark brown, troubled eyes.
“Someone thought you might have money, I’d suspect.” He glanced down at the pocketbook dangling from her wrist. “Did you have any money in the bag with your clothes?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Is all your money in your pocketbook?” They’d have to find a safe place to store it so no one attacked her for the money.
“This is a reticule and no.”
He stared at her. If the money wasn’t in the garment bag or the pocketbook… His eyes slid over her body. Where would she hide it?
“Will I be safe in here alone?” she asked, staring past him to the door.
“You should be. Put the board across whenever you are in here. There’s no way to lock anyone out when you’re gone. This wasn’t built to keep people from entering when they want. It’s a church and school.”
She shook her head. “Which makes me wonder about the morals of the person who would come in here and throw my things around.”
“Now that it’s known you don’t have money, we can hope they won’t try it again.” Isaac took a step closer to her. “I am sorry this happened. I can’t escort you everywhere after today. I have to get back to work.”
Her large eyes stared into his. “I know. I’ll be fine.” She slid her hand into her skirt pocket and pulled out a small derringer. “I hope this will keep trouble back until there is someone who will help.”
He studied the steady hand that held the weapon. She knew what she was doing. “Tell you what. I’ll go get my double-barreled shotgun for you to keep here with you.” He nodded to the derringer. “You seem able to handle a gun and it will scare someone a lot more than that little thing.”
“I would feel safer. And I know how to use a shotgun. I killed many rabbits and birds for us to eat before Alan was old enough to hold the rifle steady.” Her eyes narrowed. “And chased off a few two-legged creatures who thought we’d be easy to steal from with no grown-ups around.” She slipped the derringer back in her pocket and started picking up more of her clothes.
“I’ll go get that now.” He backed to the door. “Put the board up.”
“I will.” Allie crossed the room and picked up the board.
“I’ll be back in ten or fifteen minutes.” He exited and listened for the board to slide into place. When he heard the soft thud, he set out at a lengthened stride toward the mine. He’d asked one of the men who’d come out to gawk at Allie to take the horses and wagon to the livery for him. He’d have to retrieve his bedroll from the wagon.
Thinking what all he needed to do, he didn’t notice Tulley until the man was beside him.
“Heard you brung back a woman.”
Isaac didn’t like the way the man’s eyes lit up and he licked his lips. “She’s not a sportin’ woman. She’s Alan Wagner’s oldest. Came here to see where her pa is restin’.” He looked over at the man walking beside him. “Spread the word she’s only here for a few days and not interested in makin’ the acquaintance of any of the men.”
Tulley’s lips tipped into the lopsided grin that sent Isaac’s hackles itching every time he saw it.
“Sounds like you done staked a claim on the woman yerself.”
Isaac stopped and grabbed the shorter man by the front of his shirt. “I haven’t staked a claim on her because she isn’t a piece of property.” He dropped Tulley back down on his feet. “Get to work.”
“When you comin’ back?” Tulley asked, shifting his r
ifle.
“Next shift.” Isaac hated working the night shift. It was hard to stay awake with the monotonous thud of the stamp mill lulling you. But he’d been gone and needed to get to work and give the others a break. They’d been filling in for him the last four days.
He strode to the shack where he slept with the other guards and dug under his bed for the shotgun his grandpa gave him for his twelfth birthday. The gun was hidden back behind the wood locker he’d been given along with a bottom bunk in the guard shack. He figured anyone looking through his things would only look in the locker and not behind it.
His assumption worked. With the wooden box in the middle of the floor, he lay on his stomach and reached under the bed. His fingers touched the canvas he’d wrapped the gun in. There were two shells loaded in the barrel. While he hadn’t wanted to have the ammunition and make someone curious about his owning a rifle other than his Winchester, he didn’t want the gun to be empty in case he needed it in a hurry.
Leaving the rifle wrapped up, he slid the box back under his bunk and headed back to town and the company store. He’d get a box of shells to leave with Allie.
Miss Bucholtz stood on the porch of the boarding house. She was giving some rugs a good shake.
He tipped his hat as he walked by.
“Mr. Corum! Mr. Corum!” she called.
Isaac stopped and turned to the new cook at the boarding house. “Yes, Ma’am?”
“The miners were talking at dinner that you brought a woman to town.” She looked everywhere but at him and her cheeks took on a deeper shade of red.
He’d realized early on the new cook was shy and easy to tease. Which was unfortunate for her because that made her fair game to a lot of the men.
“I did. She’s the oldest daughter of Mr. Wagner who died a month ago. She’s here to collect his things and see where he’s restin’.”
“Oh dear! Tell her to come by tomorrow morning. I’ll make her a cup of tea and have a chat.”
Isaac smiled. That would make Allie happy considerin’ she figured her pa left the map to the mine near his bunk. “I’ll tell her. That’s mighty kind of you, Ma’am.”
“It’s always nice to have a chat with another woman.” She folded the rugs over her arm and headed back into the boarding house.
Isaac continued to the store. Ralph raised his eyebrows when Isaac walked through the door.
“Does the lady you were with earlier require more supplies?” His eyes glistened with interest.
“Yes, she does.” He pointed to a box of shotgun shells on the shelf above the clerk’s head. “A box of those.”
Ralph’s gaze followed Isaac’s pointing finger. “Shotgun shells? Now what would a woman be needing those for?”
“To keep the randy miners in this town away. While we were in here earlier someone threw all her belongin’s out of her bag and all over the school.” He shook his head. “That’s not a neighborly thing to do. She’s mad and requested a gun that will scare off the varmints.”
The clerk set the shells on the counter.
Isaac slid the money across to him. “Thank you,” he said and left the store knowing it wouldn’t be long and word would get around that the lady in the school was armed.
At the school, he knocked on the door. “Allie, it’s me, Isaac.”
The sound of wood scraping wood met his ears a moment before the door opened.
“I thought maybe you’d changed your mind, you took so long,” she said, stepping backwards.
“Had to retrieve the shotgun then go to the store for shells.” He handed her the box of ammunition and slowly unrolled the canvas to reveal the gun.
“This is close to the one I used for hunting.” She held out her hands to take it then drew them back. “May I look at it?”
He nodded, liking the way she showed respect for his property.
She broke it open, saw there were shells, and snapped it closed again. Holding it in her hands, she held it up and peered down the barrel. “This is a bit heavier than the one I used, but it should scare anyone thinking of bothering me.” She lowered the rifle and placed it on the canvas he’d folded and placed on a bench.
“Thank you. I’ll feel much safer while I’m here. But what about when I leave? I wouldn’t want anyone to steal it and people won’t think much of me hauling that around town.”
“When you leave wrap it back up in the canvas and…” He walked over to the tall box the preacher stood behind when he preached. Isaac tipped the box. There wasn’t a bottom. “Bring the rifle over here.”
Alamayda understood what he was going to do the moment he tipped the box. She carried the rifle over, and he showed her how to set the rifle so it would stay in place while she set the box back up.
He stood. “You tip it so I can make sure it isn’t too heavy for you.”
She grasped the top and tipped the box over onto its side and took the rifle out. Then picked up the top and tipped it back up.
“Good.” He picked up the rifle, putting it back on the canvas. “I saw Miss Bucholtz when I was headed to the store for the shells. She would like to have you over for tea in the morning.”
“Who is Miss Bucholz?” Alamayda’s mind was spinning. Isaac had said all but the two women at the saloon were married. Surely, he wasn’t saying she was invited by a saloon girl?
“She’s the new cook at the boarding house for the miners.” Isaac leaned against the wall by the door with his ankles crossed. “She’s a nice lady.”
“Boarding house? The place where Father slept?” Her mind was whirling now. This was the place she needed to look for the map. “So you think she’d show me where Father slept?”
“I told her and Tulley—”
“Who’s Tulley?” She interrupted, not liking the fact he was telling people anything about her.
“One of the other guards. He was asking me about you when I went to get the shotgun.” Isaac narrowed one eye. “As I was sayin’, I told them two you were here to get your father’s things and see where he was laid to rest.”
She liked that. “That is clever.” She narrowed her eyes. “That’s what I should have told you instead of the truth.”
He pushed away from the wall. “I ain’t tellin’ no one a lie. You are here to get your pa’s things and to see where he’d been.”
That was true. “I guess so. You’re the only one who needs to know the other part, about the mine.”
He nodded his head. “You’d have more than suitors tailin’ you if any of them got a whiff of what you’re lookin’ for.” Isaac’s expression sobered. “The end of every shift, we, the guards, have to check each man comin’ out of the mine. There’s a few that try to sneak out a nugget here and there.”
The disgust that darkened his features told Alamayda a lot about his character.
“It’s Mr. Morgan’s mine and he pays them good. There’s no reason for them to be stealin’.”
That was the integrity she’d spotted in him that gave her the courage to tell him the truth behind her need to come to Morgan’s Crossing.
“I’ll not say a word and keep my wits about me when out and about.” She assured him.
“Good. I have to go. I’m takin’ the night shift. Not sure when I’ll see you again. Good luck on your search.” He put his hand on the door latch.
“Thank you. I appreciate all you have done for me.” She wasn’t sure whether to hold out a hand and shake or just let him walk out the door. Her good manners took over and she extended her hand.
Isaac stared at it a moment, then pressed his calloused palm to hers and wrapped his fingers around hers. He barely squeezed, and she stared up into his eyes. She’d shook hands many times while conducting business with men, but his hand wrapped around hers and his gray eyes peering into hers, sent her insides squiggling in a way that wasn’t unpleasant.
She stared into his eyes, felt his fingers loosen. She slipped her hand from his, dropping her gaze. “Thank you,” she said again as he slipped
out the door. Alamayda stood for several minutes with her hands pressed against her middle trying to rationalize what she’d just felt while holding Isaac’s hand.
The door opened and she jumped.
Isaac’s head appeared. “You didn’t put the board down.”
“Oh my! Yes! Thank you, again.” She hurried to the door.
Isaac stared at her a moment then pulled the door closed. Alamayda picked up the board and slid it down into the brackets.
Spinning, she leaned her back against the door and wondered at what had just happened.
Chapter Ten
Alamayda woke to sunlight streaming through the one window in the building. She’d gone to bed late after having crackers and soup and making a bed roll out of the blankets and canvas she’d purchased. She’d forgotten to ask Isaac about an outhouse close by and rather than wander around in the dark looking for one, had opted to use her soup pot and now needed to dump it, find a privy, and find water to wash her dishes. She’d discovered a necessity for a chamber pail. Another trip to the store would be needed today. She’d crossed the items off her list that she’d already purchased, but there was a long list of more.
Before putting on her underskirt, she unstitched the top of one of the hidden pockets she’d put in the underskirt and pulled out a five dollar bill and five one dollar bills. These she placed in her reticule along with the few silver dollars she had left. Before heading on her trip, she’d made the pockets and put the paper money she’d saved over the years into the pockets. She had close to a hundred dollars, along with Father’s pay Isaac had sent to them. That was all she had to live on and purchase supplies until she found gold at the Wagner Mine.
She sewed the pocket shut and finished dressing. Her stomach growled. The feeling and sound had been a daily occurrence since their father lit out leaving her to take care of her siblings. Alamayda ate a couple crackers, put her shoes on, and headed out to find a privy. She found the outhouse fifty feet behind the school and another fifty feet or so past the outhouse a river meandered by. She mentally added bucket to her list.
