by Tanya Stowe
The sooner they moved, the better. If they stayed in Bodie, Lexie would become too attached to Alex and it would make the leaving harder.
She’d been searching the San Francisco papers for a boarding house to buy. With any luck, she’d be moved by spring, just in time for Lexie to start school in the fall.
Pushing her skirts out of the way, Penny moved around the desk to sit in the chair.
Outside her door, she heard Lexie shriek and the thud of Jann’s footsteps on the wood floor as he chased her down the long length of the room. Not so nimble, Jann would have a hard time catching her.
Penny smiled, loving the sound of their laughter. She pulled the crisp twenty-dollar bills out of her reticule. During the war, the government made paper bills legal tender. Five years later, some people still didn’t trust the new money, preferring to deal only in coin, gold, or silver.
But Penny loved the new currency. She found it lightweight and easy to handle, because what she didn’t trust was bankers. She kept her money here, hidden in a metal box beneath a floorboard under her desk.
She lifted the wood board and noticed that she couldn’t hear Lexie and Jann playing anymore. As she rose from her knees and slid the box’s key into the pocket of her brown skirt, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Jann entered, looking subdued and holding tightly to Lexie’s hand. He carefully closed the door behind him and waited until he’d crossed the room to speak.
“That man. That Holloway is here. He wants to see you,” the young man said in a low voice.
Penny caught her breath. “Where’s Jewel?”
“Upstairs. She don’t know he’s here.”
“I don’t like him,” Lexie whispered.
Penny cupped her daughter’s cheek and pasted a false smile on her lips. “Don’t you worry about Mr. Holloway. I’ll take care of him. You two go on upstairs and play. And Jann,” she said, just before he opened the door. “Don’t let Jewel come downstairs.”
Jann nodded, understanding more than Penny expected.
After they’d gone, she smoothed the wisps of loose hair back into the knot at the back of her head, ran her palms down her skirt and headed out.
As she left her office, she saw Inga close the swinging door to the kitchen, so she could listen from behind it.
It gave Penny a little relief to know she wasn’t completely alone with the man.
Holloway stood near the front door by a scarred, round wooden table. He removed his little bowler hat and smiled. He had the sophisticated appearance of wealth. His dark hair and mustache were neatly trimmed. His tweed suit was expensive, his shirt crisp.
But Penny knew his casual veneer was carefully cultivated.
Daniel Holloway had crawled from a dark hole and was dangerous to everyone he touched.
“Good morning, Mrs. Marsden.”
Was it her imagination or did he put special emphasis on her last name? “What do you want, Mr. Holloway?”
His smile was flat. “I see there’ll be no pretense between us. Good. I don’t like games in my business dealings.”
“What business?”
“Why, the only business you have. The Copper Penny. I’d like to buy. I’ve always fancied the place, and I’ll make you a fair offer.”
“I already have a buyer for The Copper Penny, Mr. Holloway. It’s no longer available.”
His look was condescending, as if he was correcting a child. “I think you’ll find that buyer has withdrawn his offer. A sudden change in his fortunes has precipitated that he back out of the agreement.”
Penny couldn’t hide her shock. “How do you know who it is? And how could you possibly know he’s backed out before I do?”
Holloway smiled and twirled the bowler again. “I think you’ll find that I know a great many things, Mrs. Marsden.”
There it was again. The funny inflection on her name. Had he met Alex and figured out the connection?
“I know how difficult it is for you, a widow, to raise your child and manage your business.” The way he said widow, with just enough sarcasm, convinced her that he did know about Alex. “I just want to help. Sell The Copper Penny to me. I’ll take it off your hands and save us both a lot of trouble.”
“Why? Why do you want it?” Penny asked, her voice just above a whisper. “You own a piece of every saloon in Bodie. Why do you need this one?”
“Because I’m concerned about you…you…and Jewel. You’ve both had a difficult time, and I’d like to make things easier for you.”
“Don’t insult me by pretending you care…for either of us.”
“Oh, I care about Jewel.” He stopped spinning the bowler. “You have no idea how much I care.”
“Is that what this is all about, getting back at Jewel?”
“Not getting back, Penny.” His voice was low as he dropped the Mrs. and all pretenses. “Making things right. Jewel left her home, the place where she belongs, beside me.”
“She doesn’t belong with you. She’s not your wife. You never gave her that respect.”
“You’re very wrong. She belongs with me and I’m going to see to it that she returns.”
Penny’s fists curled, hidden from Holloway beneath the folds of her skirt. “You won’t succeed. Even if I sold The Copper Penny to you, which I’d never do, Jewel will leave with us.”
Holloway’s smile made Penny want to slap his face.
“Ahh, but you see, if you do want to leave Bodie, you will sell to me. I’ve seen to it that no one else will buy your saloon.”
Penny was silent for one breathless moment. “You can’t do that.”
“I already have. Mr. McDougal, your potential buyer for The Copper Penny, had an accident last night. Something spooked his horse. Now he’s laid up with a broken leg and can’t even work his own saloon. I would hate to think there’d be a rash of accidents like that, wouldn’t you?”
Penny stared at Holloway through a strained silence.
Then the despicable man lifted his cane from the scarred table and placed it on the floor with cocky assurance.
“If you want your daughter to have a chance at a decent life, you’ll take my money. It’s the only offer you’ll get. And Penny, I offer it with one condition. Jewel stays here in Bodie. It’s that simple. Jewel, or your daughter’s future.”
He settled his bowler on his head and gave her a self-assured salute. “I’ll be expecting to hear from you. And tell Jewel whenever she wants to come home, I’ll be waiting.”
He spun and walked out the door.
Icy winter air flowed into the room and brushed over Penny. She watched Holloway thread his way through the almost six-foot-high snow piles beside the boardwalk and shivered, not just from the cold.
Behind her, the kitchen door swung open and Inga hurried to her side.
“Vhat are you going to do?” she whispered, her voice strained.
Penny ran both hands down the front of her skirt. “I don’t know.”
“Do you believe vhat he said about Mr. McDougal?”
“Yes, I do. He’s quite capable of arranging something like that.”
“You are in danger! You must go to the sheriff.”
Penny shook her head and laughed. “That won’t do any good. Daniel Holloway’s had the sheriff in his back pocket for a long time.”
“Then you must leave town. Pack your things. You and Lexie and Jewel must go now. As far away as possible.”
Penny slumped into a chair at a table. “I can’t. I can’t just leave The Copper Penny.”
The older lady twisted her hands. “Ve must do something! When Jewel hears—”
Reaching across the space, Penny grasped her arm. “You mustn’t tell her, Inga. You can’t breathe a word of what he said. If she knew, she’d go back to him. Promise me you won’t say anything!”
Inga nodded her head. “Ja, I promise. Not a vord. But vhat vill you do? Dat man vill not wait long for an answer.”
Penny rubbed
her forehead. “You’re right about that. Holloway won’t wait.”
****
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Alex read the Scripture from Philippians 4:3 one more time. It had always been an important verse to him, but now it had a special, deeper meaning.
He’d searched for Penny with single-minded purpose, never stopping to consider what would happen if he found her. It had been foolish of him. Of course, she would change. He supposed he had changed as well. He’d always just imagined them happy and enjoying their time together.
So far, he hadn’t enjoyed anything with Penny. Except his daughter. Was that all they had in common now, that bright, beautiful little girl?
Alex refused to believe it. He had to believe he had survived all things and, against all odds, found Penny again, because God had a plan for them.
But what was that plan? How could they come together? He’d told Penny whatever she’d done to protect Lexie was worthwhile. He meant it. He could forgive almost anything she’d done for the gift of his daughter. But others wouldn’t be so forgiving, including Penny.
She seemed unable or unwilling to give their marriage a chance. She was dead set on going to San Francisco. There was no business for Darnell Lumber there. No job for him. Would she give up her plan and follow him where he needed to go?
Somehow, he doubted it. Right now, he didn’t think Penny would follow him to a restaurant for dinner. She seemed so mistrustful. So cautious.
And what about Holloway? He talked as if The Copper Penny was his already.
Penny said it would never happen, and in spite of Alex’s best efforts, she’d managed to avoid him all day long, hiding upstairs while he romped with Lexie and Jann. He was no closer to piecing that mystery together than he had been last night.
It all seemed overwhelming. Too difficult.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Alex smiled. Thank you, Lord. I need the reminder. I think I’m going to need it a lot.
He closed his Bible and rose to change his shirt, and then stood in front of the tall bureau to run a comb through his hair. Penny’s black garters and hair pins lay on the top of bureau. He’d forgotten to return them to her today.
Smiling, he put the pins in his pocket. The garters he slid, one at a time, onto his upper arms. When they were secure with his loose sleeves held tight, he slipped into his jacket and headed out the door.
In the bitter cold of the outdoors, Alex regretted not wearing his heavy overcoat. The lights in the windows of The Copper Penny were a welcome sight. He slipped inside and stomped the snow off his feet.
The saloon’s only occupant was the dark-haired woman he’d met the first night. She finished lighting the kerosene wall lamps before making her way towards Alex.
As she walked closer, Alex couldn’t help but notice her incredible beauty. She was one of the prettiest women he’d ever seen, with shiny black hair and flawless porcelain skin. But her blue eyes were lifeless, dead, and her figure far too slender and thin. She wore an expensive black dress with a high neck and long sleeves, but it was faded and the sleeve edges were slightly frayed.
“Penny asked me to show you around.” She would not meet his gaze.
“Is she going to hide upstairs again?”
The woman’s lips thinned into a tight line, but she said nothing as she led the way to the bar. “The cash drawer is here.” She gestured to a shelf below the counter.
“Wait a minute. Do I even get to meet you properly?”
She hesitated. “Jewel. My name is Jewel.”
Alex wondered where she’d gotten such an unusual name. Was she like Penny, born to a station in life and a name that suited her? He also wondered if she had once been someone’s precious jewel.
But Jewel’s demeanor didn’t invite questions or conversation of any kind, so he kept his thoughts to himself as she pointed out the tools behind the bar.
He was impressed when he stepped behind it for the first time. Penny knew what a man liked to drink. Plenty of whiskey, not rot-gut, but quality. Irish whiskey, Scotch, a little gin, and rum, even a bottle of imported brandy. Organized bottles filled the shelves, gleaming along with the spotless glasses in the polished mirror behind the bar.
Not a speck or a stain marred the floor, and the rich mahogany wood of the bar had been waxed to a sheen. Even the brass foot rail and the spittoons in the front sparkled. Penny understood how to set a man up so his drinking was pure pleasure. No wonder she’d made a success of two other saloons.
He said so to Jewel as she counted out the money in the drawer.
Her only response was to nod towards the back of the room. “There’s a storeroom if you run out of anything. And I’ll be here if you have any problems.”
“All right.” Alex was determined not to be put off by her cool reserve. “Is it always this quiet?”
She paused and looked around the room. “It’s been…unusually quiet lately.”
“Any particular reason?”
She looked outside through the window.
Alex got the distinct impression she knew exactly why.
But she shook her head and picked up a tray.
Two gentlemen entered and drew out chairs at a table.
Jewel hurried over to take their order.
After that, the saloon filled quickly. The shift at the Standard Mine must have ended.
Max, the regular bartender, never showed, so Alex hopped along the bar, barely managing to keep up with the orders.
Jann brought an armful of wood in from the woodpile and placed it near the black, potbellied stove in the corner. He opened the heavy cast-iron door and stuffed in a few pieces before he turned to Alex.
“Anything I can do you for you before I go upstairs?”
“As a matter of fact, there is.” Alex studied Jann. “How old are you?”
“Sixteen.” He stood a little straighter.
“You’re old enough to do a man’s work. Take off your jacket and roll up your sleeves. I need these glasses washed. I’m running out.”
Jann sent a quick glance to Jewel who had just returned to the bar with a tray full of empty glasses. Before she could say anything, Jann’s gaze shot back to Alex.
“Yes, sir!” He spun away to the kitchen to remove his coat.
“Am I going to be in trouble with his mother?” Alex asked Jewel.
A mere ghost of a smile, the first he’d seen on the woman, flitted across her lips. “I don’t think it matters now. A team of wild horses couldn’t stop him from doing ‘a man’s work.’”
Alex grinned and plopped two glasses onto her tray.
Jewel turned away and Alex could have sworn he saw a twinkle in her eye.
****
Penny was late. She always read to Lexie and tucked her into bed before going down to help with the customers. Tonight, her daughter was so keyed up, she had a hard time settling down.
If Penny had her way, she would have stayed upstairs with Lexie all night. But Alex would take it as a sign of weakness, and right now she couldn’t afford to be weak. She needed to show Alex only strength and conviction.
He didn’t understand, didn’t want to accept reality. But she did. In the two short years they’d had together, she and Alex had encountered so many things…social prejudices because of their different backgrounds, hatred and passion over the war, even their own different perspectives had threatened to tear them apart. There’d been so many obstacles, great and small, that Penny lost count.
But she did get the most important point. She realized they would never be together.
She’d followed him anyway, determined to have whatever little piece of him fate would allow. What she didn’t realize was how difficult it would be to live without him when he’d gone.
Even now, the days and weeks after he’d disappeared blurred in her mind. If not for the kindness of the landlady where they lived, Penny might have lost her mind. It wasn’t until she’d gone into
labor and they placed Lexie in her arms that she had begun to live again.
For Lexie. Only for her. Penny studied her daughter’s features, soft in her sleep.
Now Alex was back, inserting himself into Lexie’s life. He would do the same thing to his daughter. Already Alex was lighting up Lexie’s world, bringing in new ideas and experiences. Changing everything. Changing Lexie.
What would happen to her when he left? And he would leave. Penny was certain Alex would leave them again. He was destined for bigger and greater things.
When she’d first met him, he was a simple foreman in a small mining operation. Now he hobnobbed with bankers and leaders of the town. Alex would go places where Penny could never follow. She didn’t belong in those places, and they would be separated again.
But what about their daughter? Where did Lexie fit in?
She was half Alex, half Penny. Both worlds.
Would she follow in her father’s footsteps or be like her mother and wither on the vine when he was gone?
Penny squeezed her eyes shut. She wanted to gather her daughter up in her arms and run. Panic raced through her and she clenched Lexie’s bedcovers as her heart pounded. Slowly, the fear eased. Reality returned. She released the covers.
Penny couldn’t leave, couldn’t abandon Jann and Inga. Jewel would never escape Holloway without her. Penny couldn’t run, but she was terrified to stay. She didn’t know which way to turn.
One thing was certain. Her answers wouldn’t come while she hid up here. They were waiting for her down below.
Carefully, she rose from Lexie’s bed and eased into the hall. She turned the wick low on the wall lantern and smoothed her dress. The heavy knot of hair at the back of her head felt loose. She still couldn’t find her pins. She was constantly re-pinning the two she had. Tomorrow, first thing, she would buy some new ones. With that thought, she pinched her cheeks and headed downstairs.
The stove in the corner radiated heat. Penny warmed her hands over it as she surveyed the crowd.
