by Paty Jager
“And where are ye thinkin’ we’d get an ore cart or two.” She swept her arms around. “If we could afford the carts we’d no’ be haulin’ buckets to the sluice.”
Dang, she was a tough one. He sighed. “You can use our ore carts. We’ll leave some empty for you during the week to fill.” He’d have to talk a good talk to make his brothers agree to all these things he found himself saying. The woman’s eyes gleamed with triumph. She knew she had him.
“Sounds like a better deal than twenty-five dollars.” She extended a hand.
“We’ll shake today, but I’ll bring back papers in a couple of days for you to sign.” The frown returned, and she started to pull her arm back. He grasped her hand. The calloused palm could have been that of another man, yet the slender fingers and hesitant grip told him otherwise.
“The papers won’t say anything different than what I’ve offered.” He held onto her hand, waiting for her to argue. She stared into his eyes, his heart rammed into his ribs. Surprise and confusion widened her eyes before she glanced away and jerked her fingers from his.
He cleared his throat and rubbed his tingling hand across the thigh of his pants.
“I’ll ride to Baker City tomorrow and get the papers written up by a lawyer and bring them back day after tomorrow.” He stood.
“When will ye start buildin’ the mill?” The hesitation in her eyes made him wonder if she’d change her mind once they started to build.
“As soon as you sign the papers we’ll start stacking the rock foundation.”
Her eyes widened before she glanced at the boy. “That soon.”
“I want this up and running before winter sets in. Miners can stockpile their diggings, and on their day, haul it to the mill through the winter, making less down time.” He glanced around. “I’m sure you don’t pull near the ore out of your mine during the winter as the other months. With the mill you can work less and get more.”
This time the boy took an interest in what he said.
“You saying by using the mill, Ma wouldn’t have to work so much?”
He’d found the boy’s weakness. “Yes, you and your ma will get more return from your work. If you can keep several ore carts filled a week, she won’t have to do as much.” Ethan glanced at Aileen then back to the boy. “I could even hire you on to help at the stamp mill.” The boy shot a glance at his mother and then lowered his gaze.
“We’ll give yer say some thought, Mr. Halsey.” Aileen rose.
He knew this was his cue to leave. Ethan stood, extended his hand to Colin and ruffled Shayla’s hair. The little girl wrapped her arms around his legs. His heart thumped up into his throat, and his eyes burned. She smiled up at him as though he’d given her a beloved treasure. He’d never experienced anything as fulfilling.
He couldn’t speak. He plopped his hat on his head and gently pried the arms loose. Clearing his throat a couple times, he touched her nose with the tip of his finger. “See you day after tomorrow.” He walked over to his horse.
Ethan didn’t look back as he rode out of the clearing and into the trees. The desire in Aileen’s eyes when they shook hands and the tingle her touch left in his palm, made his heart race and a certain body part enlarge. He’d never been the desire of any woman. He thought of the Widow James. Well, not one that made his heart race and his body react at the thought of her.
The business transaction gave him power. The thought of Aileen wanting him shook his confidence.
Chapter 6
“That’s asinine!” Clay shot out of the chair. “You can’t put a stamp mill on her property and give her the use of the thing.” He slapped one hand into the upturned palm of the other. “If we don’t own the land it’s sitting on, she can boot us off at any time! It’s her land!”
“I have to agree with Clay on this.” Hank nodded.
“She isn’t going to sell.” Ethan ran a hand through his hair and stared at his brothers. How did he make them realize it was the only way to make their dream come true? “We’ll have the lawyer write it up as us renting the land.”
“And she can revoke the lease at any time!” Clay paced to the stove and back.
“Not if we put in writing we are renting it indefinitely.” He had to make them agree.
“Then how is she going to sell when she’s ready if we have an indefinite rent on that part of her land?” Hank took a sip of his coffee and leveled curious eyes on him.
“I’ll buy the land.” He’d thought about it on the way home. Asked himself all these same questions and the answer was simple. When she was ready to move on, he’d buy the land. By then the mill would be making money, and he’d have the funds to do it. “We could even put in the contract that we’d purchase all the land when she gets ready to sell.”
“What if she likes that idea and says she wants to sell before we can afford it all?” Clay turned the chair and sat with his arms folded across the back.
“From what she said today, I think she needs more money than the sale of her property will get her. I’d say she isn’t looking to sell for at least five years.” He smiled. “We’ll be solvent by then, boys.”
“I still don’t like it, but if it’s the only way we can get the mill started and be done by winter, I guess we don’t have much choice.” Hank patted Clay on the shoulder. “What do you think? Are you okay with this?”
“I’m in, but I’m not okay.” Clay narrowed his eyes and stared at Ethan. “I just hope your thinkin’ with your head and not another part of your body.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Ethan surged off his chair and leaned across the table toward his mouthy brother.
“Every time you come back from seeing that woman, your eyes are glowing and you smile a whole lot.”
“That’s ridiculous! I may be smiling but that’s because I know we’re getting the stamp mill.” Ethan didn’t like his attraction to the woman was so easily detected.
“Yeah, so you say.” Clay took a sip of coffee, but his gaze never left Ethan.
“Let’s write all this down. I’ll take a ride into Baker City and bring the contract back in the morning.” Hank grabbed a pencil and a piece of paper from the middle of the table.
Ethan crossed his arms and began reciting the promises he’d made the Widow Miller.
****
Aileen slammed the pick into the side of the mine. Rubble rained down around her. They’d hit a good pocket of quartz this morning. She ran a hand over her face to clear away the dirt. This vein should have meant extra work for her and Colin. She smiled. Instead, they’d stock pile the rubble and send it to the stamp mill when it was up and running. The only toil would be getting it there and walking away with a bag of gold.
She still couldn’t believe Mr. Halsey had given them track, ore carts, and free use of the stamp mill just to build on their land. He planned to make a grand pot of money from the venture. Which made it easier for her to stomach the deal.
One thing she was was fair. If the Halsey’s padded their pockets from her land, there was no reason they couldn’t pad theirs as well.
“Ma, he’s comin’” Colin’s voice echoed through the tunnel.
She dropped the pick. “Cach!” The heavy tool landed on her foot. She bit back the tears, grabbed the lantern sitting on a stone, and hobbled to the entrance.
Colin stood in the opening. She couldn’t see his expression for the sunlight behind him shining brightly.
He rushed forward. “What’s wrong?” He slipped a strong arm around her waist helping her along.
“Ah dropped the bloody pick on ma foot.” She cast a glance at the tree where Mr. Halsey fancied to tie his horse. There he was, bent down, conversing with Shayla. “Ask Mr. Halsey to show ye exactly where he plans to build this stamp mill.”
Colin started to shake his head.
“Do it. While ye have him gone, ah’ll hobble on out o’ here, clean up a bit, and be sittin’ in the chair under the tree when ye get back.” She squeezed her son’s
shoulders. “Ah dinnae want any man to see me weak. Not again.”
His eyes flashed with recognition.
“Be sending Shayla my way.”
He nodded and walked out of the mine, his slender back held tall. His gait grew more and more like a man’s every day.
Aileen watched from the shadow of the entrance as Colin stopped in front of Mr. Halsey. The man glanced toward the mine, put some papers in the saddlebag on his horse, and headed down the creek. Shayla shifted back and forth. Her gaze followed the two as her feet finally carried her toward the mine. Aileen smiled. The child was smitten with the man.
“I want to go.” Shayla looked over her shoulder to where the man and boy disappeared.
“Ah be needin’ yer help, lassie.” Aileen found a stick not too far from the mouth of the mine and leaned on it as she hobbled to the shack.
“Momma, are you ‘k’?” Shayla grasped her free hand, holding it up as though she could help take weight off the throbbing foot.
“Dropped the pick on ma toe. Help me clean up and sit in the chair under the tree.” For the first time since setting eyes on the rickety shack, she was happy there weren’t any steps to climb. She stopped in front of the bucket of water and scrubbed the dirt from her face. “Is the filth gone from my face?” she asked the child hovering by her side.
Shayla motioned for her to lean down. The darlin’ child clutched the hem of her own shift and dabbed at a spot on Aileen’s cheek.
“Now yer bonnie, Momma.” The sweet thing kissed her cheek and smiled.
“Thank ye, lassie.” Her heart melted all over again for the sweet bairn who made all her beatings a faded memory. She scrubbed her hands and arms and brushed at the dirt and debris on her clothing.
“Help me to the shade.” Aileen used the stick to keep pressure off her foot and hobbled to the chair beneath the tree. Shayla followed along beside her. The child remained near, helping prop her foot up and offering to bring her a glass of water.
“That’s a dear. My throat is parched.” Aileen glanced toward the stream. Mr. Halsey and Colin walked toward her. She breathed a sigh they hadn’t come any sooner and caught her hobbling around. She would not show this man or any man weakness. No one would use fear to humiliate her again.
“Aileen.” Mr. Halsey removed his wide-brimmed hat and took the seat adjacent to hers.
“Mr. Halsey.” She turned to Colin. “And was Mr. Halsey showin’ ye the area he wishes to build the stamp mill?”
“Yes, Ma. It’s a section not far beyond where we bathe.”
Where they bathed? She turned to Mr. Halsey. “Is there no’ another spot ye could go?”
“The water falls quickly just beyond that pool creating the force we need to make the mill run.” Ethan didn’t miss the near panic in the woman’s eyes, nor the tremble in her voice. “Have you searched upstream for a bathing spot?”
“Tis too rocky and shallow.”
He glanced at the boy. He’d get no help from him.
“We cannae be bathing so close to the mill.” She glared at him. “Ye’ll have to move the mill.”
“I told you there is no other spot to put it.” Her eyes challenged him. His mother held a lot of stock in bathing. It seemed Aileen did as well. He wasn’t about to have her back out over a small thing he could easily provide. Hell, if he was giving her track, ore carts, and free use of the stamp mill, a bathtub was nothing. “I’ll bring you a tub. One you can put either down by the creek or up here in your lean-to.”
Her eyes narrowed, and her head tilted to the right as she watched him. Filtered snips of sunlight highlighted her dark brown hair, illuminating streaks of copper. The scattering of freckles across her pale face gave her a delicate lacy appearance. Her light green eyes peering at him, slowly lost their hardness, and as they softened, the color deepened and wrinkles at the corners of her eyes formed.
“Do yer family know the things you offer?”
“Up until the bathtub, yes.”
Her soft laughter bubbled forth, mingling with the twitter of the birds in the tree above them. He couldn’t help but smile at the sound and the sparkling eyes that mocked him.
“Yer sure to get a lick for promisin’ the loony widow a bathtub.”
He grinned, thinking of how Clay would take this latest news. “Yes, I’m sure Clay will have a good time with this.” He leaned forward, ignoring the glare he received from the boy. “I’ve already had to fight for your requests. Let’s keep the bathtub between us.”
She nodded and leaned in toward him. “ ’Tis our secret. But ah dinnae want a small one. It best be a sittin’ tub, not one ye stand in.”
Now how would he explain the purchase of a full tub over a wash tub? He cleared his throat. This woman was going to make him appear weak to his brothers. Yet, after hearing her sparkling laughter, he’d do just about anything to be treated to that warm sound again.
“One full-sized tub it will be.”
“And it be showin’ up here afore ye start buildin’.” She shook a finger at him. “We’ll no’ walk around in filth waitin’ for the tub while yer busy puttin’ up yer mill.”
He bit back his retort and stood. “I’ll get the contract.” Ethan walked over to his horse. She had him by the balls, and she knew it. He saw it in the little quiver at the corners of her mouth as she made her demands and in the mirth dancing in her light green eyes. He hated the fact he’d do just about anything to get her signature on the contract. He’d sell himself if it would consummate this deal.
The thought sent heat straight to his loins. He nearly moaned at the vision of lowering his body upon hers and taking away her loneliness if only for a brief time. She tried to hide it, but he’d witnessed the flashes of longing in her eyes. Could he ease her longing? From his few trips to prostitutes, he’d learned a brief coupling did little to relieve loneliness.
“Are ye findin’ the papers?” Her musical voice called out.
“Yes, just trying to find a pencil.” And wait for my pants to loosen. He dug around in the saddlebag until he could move without looking like he had a stick in his britches.
He returned to the seat under the tree.
“Colin, be fetchin’ Mr. Halsey a glass o’ water.” Aileen waved her hand toward the shack. The boy glanced at him then his mother before he headed at a brisk clip toward the building.
As soon as the boy was gone, she said in almost a whisper. “Mr. Halsey, I know enough to read a newspaper but my abilities to read a contract are failin’.” She glanced at the house where Colin hurried back to them. “My laddie also has limited learnin’. I’d be forgivin’ ye the takin’ o’ our land, if ye could offer to read the contract out loud.” She leaned closer. “T’ save my Colin’s feelin’s.”
Ethan nodded. Having a mother who taught her children everything she knew about reading, writing, and ciphering numbers, he could understand why Aileen felt she let her children down with her limited knowledge.
When the boy handed him the chipped glass of cool water, Ethan took a swallow and licked his lips. His gaze strayed to Aileen’s face. The smile curving her lips just about sprung the front of his britches.
Clearing his throat, he turned to the boy. “I thought I’d read the contract out loud so both you and your ma could see that I didn’t put anything in here we didn’t agree on the other day.”
The boy nodded, and Ethan began to read aloud. Shayla curled up at his feet with her head resting against his leg. He reached down to pat her curly head. Glancing up, he caught Aileen listening intently her eyes closed as she nodded her head. Colin stood with his long, skinny legs apart, his arms crossed in an unyielding stance.
When Ethan finished, he handed the paper and pencil to Aileen. She set it on the upturned hunk of wood between them and scratched her name across the paper. Then she handed the pencil to Colin.
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“Where we come from, the laddie is the man of the family since his da be gone. But I know ye’d no’
like it if he be the only one signin’ the paper.”
“It doesn’t matter to me as long as you both understand this contract allows us to build the stamp mill on your land that we are renting by you using the stamp mill at no cost. And that we have the right to purchase the land when you are ready to sell.”
“Aye. We understand.”
“Fine. I’ll be here tomorrow morning to start laying the foundation.”
“Aye, but what o’ my bathtub?” Her green eyes flickered with distrust. “Ye’ll no’ be goin’ back on yer word. Ye said ah’d be havin’ it afore ye started the buildin’.”
“I’ll go to town right now and get it and deliver it in the morning when I arrive.” The woman was cagey. She hadn’t appeared that taken with the idea of a bathtub, yet here she fought for it. Ethan grinned. “I have a feeling we’ll be sparring quite a bit before this stamp mill is finished.”
“Only if ye be failin’ to stick to yer word.”
He saw the twitch at the corner of her lips and grinned. Damn, if it wasn’t going to be stimulating butting heads with her.
“I’ll stick to my word.”
“We’ll be seein’ that ye do.”
He slapped his hat on his head and stood. Holding out his hand to Colin, he smiled. “If you want a job, come by the site. I’m sure we can find something for you to do.” He turned to Aileen. “I’ll be by with that tub in the morning.” He extended his hand. She tentatively touched her fingers to his palm before clasping his hand.
His palm registered every curve and callous of hers. What made him so sensitive to her touch?
“Be sure and ye do that. Or ye will be doin’ no’ buildin’.” She pulled from his grasp and nodded toward his horse. A sign she wanted him to leave.
Ethan dropped his arm and studied her face. She lowered her lashes, hiding her emotions from him. He leaned down and captured Shayla, holding her up in the air as she giggled. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yes!” She placed her small hands on either side of his face and dropped a feather-light kiss on his forehead.
