Brighter than Gold (Western Rebels Book 1)

by Cynthia Wright

  Brian was growing increasingly uneasy as he listened to this conversation. It worried him to think that Jack might go to work for Rush and Van Hosten. Glancing over at his daughter, he saw that she was watching the two men with an expression of open contempt. He decided that a distraction was in order.

  “Mr. Van Hosten,” he interrupted, “I’ve neglected to introduce you to Columbia’s newest resident and my newest employee! This is Mrs. Abigail Armitage. Miss Abby, say hello to Mr. Harold Van Hosten, one of our most prominent citizens!”

  She smiled at him warily and extended her hand, which Van Hosten lifted lightly to his lips. After amenities were exchanged, he murmured, “Armitage... that name sounds familiar....”

  “I believe that you were acquainted with my husband, Ben, Mr. Van Hosten. He worked in your mine. You may recall that Ben staked a claim of his own near Springfield, and it looked very promising. I believe that you were quite interested in purchasing it from him, but he refused, and shortly after that he was... killed in an accident in the mine.” Abby’s rouged lips trembled as she spoke.

  Van Hosten put some coins on the bar and stood up. “Of course, I do remember your husband, Mrs. Armitage,” he said absently. “He was a fine man, a good worker. Mr. Rush and I were saddened by his death. Unfortunately, mining is hazardous, and I know that Ben was aware of the risks. You have my sincere sympathy, madam, and my best wishes for the future.”

  Abby could only nod, after which Van Hosten made his farewells and strode out of the saloon. Longing to soothe the obviously distraught young widow, Brian poured more sherry.

  “Thank you,” she whispered. Her tiny hand shook as she lifted the glass to her lips.

  Katie felt the stirrings of genuine compassion. Ignoring Jack and her father, she reached over to touch Abby’s arm. “I have to go to the Gazette for a few hours, but I’ll return here later this afternoon and help you learn what will be necessary to perform your job. All right, Abby?”

  “You’re very kind.”

  “I thought Miss Abby might stay in that spare room upstairs,” Brian remarked. “The bed’s good, and there’s a balcony overlooking Main Street. With a few female touches, it ought to do quite nicely. Why don’t you let me show it to you, m’dear, and you can freshen up if you’d like, and lie down for a bit.”

  Jack stood up. “Abby’s things are still at the Wells Fargo office. I’ll go get them.”

  To her dismay, Katie found that he was walking behind her out of the saloon, and she could feel him watching the gentle sway of her hips. Out on the dusty street, she whirled to face him.

  “I wish you would stay away from me!”

  Jack feigned surprise. “I thought I was doing that! You can’t accuse me of lurking, either, since I announced my intention to leave.”

  Katie was unnerved by the way his eyes danced as they stared into her own. “I can’t bear your proximity,” she said, then turned and walked away.

  Jack kept pace. “That’s unfortunate, since we’re heading in the same direction. And I had the impression that you had something on your mind that you might wish to say to me....”

  Goaded to the breaking point, Katie stopped. “All right,” she replied in poisonously sweet tones, “I’ll tell you.”

  “Good!” He broke into a grin and she narrowed her eyes in return. “I’m sure you’ll feel better afterward. Why don’t we just step over here under a tree so that we don’t attract a crowd.”

  When Jack’s fingers closed around her arm, as if to guide her, Katie wrenched free and walked ahead of him to the shelter of the spreading branches of a tree of heaven.

  “Here I am,” Jack invited, standing before her, “a willing target. Please begin.”

  “I don’t mind if I do! First of all, you needn’t look as if my anger is cause for amusement.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better.” He strove to settle his features into a mask of sobriety.

  “And I am well aware that you are presently being nice only to entertain yourself!” When he blinked in mild surprise, Katie was unaccountably pleased. “Everything you have done today, Mr. Adams, has made me furious! I feel a great deal of sympathy for Mrs. Armitage, and she seems to be a good person, but you had no right to manipulate my father into providing employment for her!”

  “Was that what I did?”

  “It certainly was! Oh, you were very canny, like a cat with a mouse, explaining the situation to my father in such a way that he was bound to agree! He is kind, warm-hearted, and impulsive, as well you know, for you have been the recipient of his generosity yourself. But, if you were a person with any scruples, you would not have played upon his good nature to achieve your own ends!”

  Jack’s brows arched slightly. “And what might those be?”

  She wished he would be quiet and just listen to her. Casting about for a response, she exclaimed, “I’d rather not sully my mind with the sordid possibilities.”

  Unable to contain himself, he gave in to husky laughter, eventually taking a breath and murmuring, “I’m sorry; I couldn’t help it. Sometimes the things that come out of your mouth are simply delightful!” He smiled down at her angry countenance. “Is it so difficult for you to believe that my motive was simply to help Abby?”

  “Perhaps it was in part, but I also know that there is more to it,” Katie said stubbornly.

  “Do you imagine that I did it to aggravate you?”

  That was precisely what she thought, but when he said it aloud it sounded ludicrous. “Of course not! But you had no right to interfere in the business of the saloon. We have worked hard to establish a certain reputation for quality—unlike the establishments in Columbia which cater to a more... lascivious clientele. Now that reputation will be at risk!”

  Jack leaned against the tree trunk and folded his arms. “Your father is only at risk to make more money than he’s seen lately. Abby likes men, and they’ll like her—therefore, they’ll come to the saloon to see her.”

  “You can try to whitewash this, but the fact remains—”

  “That you’re jealous. You’ve been the only female in that saloon, and even though you claim to be above feminine vanity, the fact remains that you’ve gotten all the admiring looks from the men without having to curl your hair or wear a pretty gown or lower yourself to wearing powder and rouge.”

  Katie longed to slap him, but the curious glances of passersby held her in check. “I do not wish to discuss this matter any further, Mr. Adams. Obviously you are far too rude to listen to reason or admit that you have erred.”

  “It seems I am quite hopeless,” he replied agreeably. “Are we finished?”

  “Not quite!” Her eyes were flashing, her delicately sculpted cheeks were rosy, and she was breathing hard. The conviction that Jack appreciated even the physical effects of her fury only made Katie angrier. “I also would like to inform you that, if I did not already have enough reasons to disapprove of you, your conversation with Harold Van Hosten gave me another.”

  The laughter went out of Jack’s eyes. “Indeed?”

  “It was unpleasant enough to see you being polite to a man I have told you is corrupt, and who you know may well have been responsible for the death of Mrs. Armitage’s husband. But when you began discussing the possibility of going to work for him, I was filled with revulsion!”

  Jack opened his mouth to speak, then seemed to think better of it and sighed instead. A muscle in his jaw tensed before he finally replied evenly, “Unlike the Griffin, whose courage you so admire, I cannot wear a mask in the presence of Van Hosten. I must introduce myself by name and show my face, which I happen to be quite fond of. I haven’t forgotten Ben Armitage’s death; it holds a lesson, reminding me what is necessary to stay alive. If that makes me a coward, then so be it.”

  Katie steeled herself against the spell of his eyes and his soft, serious voice. “We have nothing left to say to each other, Mr. Adams.”

  Slowly, he reached out and smoothed a stray curl from her brow
. Gentle irony infected his voice as he murmured, “Somehow, Miss MacKenzie, I doubt that....”

  Her heart thudded and she tried to swallow. Pressing her lips together, Katie turned away. She had gone only a few steps when the pull of his eyes caused her to pause for an instant, but then she continued walking, not looking back until she was safely inside the white frame office of the Columbia Gazette. Leaning against the door, she pressed shaking fingers to her burning cheeks.

  “Odious, odious man!” she whispered. She had no idea why Jack Adams stirred up such vehement, conflicting emotions within her, but she wished fervently that he had never come into her life.

  Chapter 4

  June 26, 1864

  “That was delicious!” Brian declared, swallowing the last bite of his toast and poached egg. “Your strawberry jam is as fine as any your dear mother ever made.”

  “Thank you, Papa.” Absently, Katie picked up his plate and walked over to wash it with the other breakfast dishes.

  Brian followed, wrapping an arm around her slim shoulders. “You look real pretty today! Is that a new frock?”

  She glanced down at the dress of white percale dotted in violet. The full skirt was set off by a violet sash at the waist, and the high, violet-bordered collar was edged in starched white lace. “It’s the one Victoria made for my birthday. Do you really like it?”

  “You’re a picture. Have you thought about putting your hair up?” Immediately Brian regretted his words. “I see—that’d be a mistake, wouldn’t it? Jack might think you were changing your hair because he suggested it.”

  “Mr. Adams’s opinion is of no consequence as far as I’m concerned, Papa.”

  “That’s my girl! You know, the sight of you so beautiful and grown-up makes me remember something I’ve been meanin’ to give you.” He took her by the hand and led her into his bedroom. Opening the top drawer of a worn cherrywood bureau, Brian reached to the back and withdrew a small wooden box. “This was your mother’s, and she wanted you to have it. I should’ve given it to you on your birthday, but you know how absentminded I can be. I forget that you’re not my little girl anymore.”

  Katie held the box for a moment before opening it. She tried not to think of her mother, avoiding the pain that inevitably accompanied memories, and now she could already feel the familiar sting mingling with a sense of anticipation. Slowly she lifted the lid to reveal Mary MacKenzie’s three cherished pieces of jewelry. Nestled in a bed of velvet were a lustrous pearl necklace, a cameo brooch edged with gold filigree, and a beautiful ring that featured a sapphire encircled by tiny diamonds.

  “Oh...” she breathed. She picked up the cameo, stroking the sculpted pink-and-white surface with the side of her thumb. “Mama wore this nearly every day! I assumed that...”

  “She wore it still?” Brian whispered. The sight of Katie’s eyes shining with tears made his throat close and his voice grow thick. “No, darlin’. Mary has her wedding rings, but she asked me to keep these for you. You’ve never shown an interest in jewelry before, but seeing you so lovely in that dress made me think that it’s time you had these.”

  Katie looked into his shaving mirror and pinned the brooch to the base of her lacy collar. “I love it, Papa. Thank you.”

  Brian gathered her into his bearlike embrace. He held her for a long time, awkwardly patting the back of her head until he felt the warmth of her tears penetrate his shirt. “What’s wrong, lass?”

  “I miss Mama.”

  “I know you do. I do, too, but I’m thinking that’s not all that’s bothering you. Won’t you tell your pa what it is?”

  She shook her head but wouldn’t meet his eyes. “It’s nothing, really.”

  “Wouldn’t have anything to do with Jack Adams, would it?” Brian pressed gently.

  Katie disengaged from her father’s arms and walked over to lean against the door frame, arms folded across her breasts. “No. Well, yes, but not in the way you think. I mean, I have no feelings at all about the man himself—it’s the things he does and says that vex me so!”

  Brian’s gaze was tender as he took in the stubborn set of Katie’s chin. “Tell me what you mean.”

  “I feel that this is my home. I’m a part of our family, of this town, and I’ve grown to depend on certain things being constant. You and the saloon and my friends and neighbors are my whole world... yet since Jack came to Columbia, everything seems turned upside-down!” She took a deep breath, hoping to calm herself. “He’s changed things that I had come to rely upon. Even you aren’t the same, Papa! I always could predict what you would say and do, but that man has convinced you to change things that were just fine until he interfered. He’s invaded our home, and everything is different at the saloon. You know that I like Abigail just fine, but I don’t think we needed her to work at the saloon. It used to be a place of business, a friendly place with a sort of dignity, where the men could come for a quiet drink, some conversation, wholesome food, and a game if they were so inclined. Now there’s this blushing, pretty girl who wears gowns that show part of her bosom when she bends over and who causes the men to act like adolescent boys! And meanwhile, there is Jack Adams, leaning against the bar and admiring his own handiwork. Well, it wasn’t his place to interfere! He has you so charmed that you don’t even blink when he discusses taking a job with Harold Van Hosten! Well, I can see him for what he is. I just wish he would go away and leave us alone!”

  Brian rubbed his jaw, bemused. “Sounds like you’ve been holdin’ in a whole lot of frustration, love.”

  Suddenly she felt like crying, but she pushed down the tide of emotion, merely nodding in response.

  “Probably upsets you that I haven’t seemed to pay any mind to your objections to Jack so far.”

  “Well... yes! Yes, it’s bothered me that a virtual stranger has had more sway with you than I, that you seem to have more respect for his judgment than for mine. And, it bothers me that he brushes off my protestations and opinions as if they aren’t worth considering!”

  MacKenzie wanted to put an arm around his daughter, but he gave her space instead. “I apologize if I’ve been inconsiderate. I’ve not meant to hurt you, and I think you know that I respect your judgment and opinions. Haven’t I listened to you always?” He paused, then added gently, “You’ve had a great deal of power in your own world, ever since your ma died. You’ve been used to behaving as you pleased and looking as you pleased... and having things the way you wanted them. I’m not saying that’s bad. You have a strong will, Kathleen, and you’re pretty and as smart as any man. It’s only natural that you’d stand out in this town.”

  “Are you suggesting that I’m spoiled?” she asked in a quiet, shocked voice.

  “I wouldn’t put it that way. You’ve worked too hard to be spoiled. You’re just a natural leader, and you’re used to that. I’m afraid that Jack Adams is the same way. I happen to believe that other people’s opinions can be worthwhile, which is why I’ve listened to Jack. It sure doesn’t mean I put any less stock in what you think! I love you more than my own life. It just seems to me that you’re accustomed to people doing what you want, and rightly so. It’s natural that you’d be annoyed by Jack busting into your world. Not only are people listening to him instead of you, but you can’t get him to do what you want, either.”

  “You make me sound horrid, Papa!”

  “Nonsense!” Brian laughed. “And what you’re feeling is just part of growing up. Look on it as a lesson. Even in a town like Columbia, you can’t always make life turn out the way you’d like. Other people have their own ways, which may not be the same as what you want.”

  Slowly, she came over to him and rested her head against his sturdy shoulder. “I’ll try to remember that, Papa.”

  “You’ll be a lot happier if you can.” Smiling, he patted her cheek. “Would you listen to a bit more advice from your old pa about Jack Adams?”

  Katie sighed. “I suppose so.”

  “You’re lettin’ him bother you too much
, lass. Just let him be. And, don’t think that everything he does is to get your goat! Relax... accept him as he is, because there’s not a blessed chance that you can change him. If he ever does start actin’ the way you’d like him to, it’ll be because he chooses to and not because you willed it.” Brian kissed the tip of her nose. “I have a suspicion that, deep down inside, you like him just a little bit. You know, you’re too young and pretty to get so riled up over one human being. Why not look on Jack’s visit here as an opportunity for adventure? Try to have a bit of fun!”

  Katie made a face. “Why don’t I start with something that would be easier to enjoy? Perhaps I could persuade our good dentist Dr. Blake to extract one of my teeth!”

  * * *

  “Have you ever tried this concoction?” Gideon Henderson asked as he set the type for an advertisement of “Dr. Webber’s Invigorating Cordial.”

  Smiling, Katie read aloud from the copy: “Do you feel prostration of the nerves, the body, or the mind? Are your nerves unstrung, your spirits low?” She skipped ahead to “Weakness in Females, and Aged Persons, are singularly benefitted.” Katie laughed. “How interesting to learn that we women are classified with the aged in terms of our health! No, Gideon, I’ve never tried this miraculous cure. Have you?”

  He pushed up his glasses with ink-smeared fingers. “No, but a few years back, my mother was drinking a bottle a day. She smelled like she’d just left a saloon, and she acted that way, too! Finally, Mother set the kitchen on fire while trying to light the stove and my father refused to let her have any more of Dr. Webber’s Invigorating Cordial!”

  “A wise decision. Did she miss it?”

  “Oh, yes. She took to her bed and sulked for a week before announcing that her headaches were completely gone and she felt fine for the first time in months.”

  They had almost finished with the back page of the Gazette. Tomorrow this weekly issue, including her story about the Griffin, would go on sale. Anticipating increased interest, Gideon planned to print an extra fifty copies.