Prospecting for Love

by Barbara Baldwin

  "I've already proposed -- dozens of times. I just haven't gotten you to say yes." What was it about her that kept him coming back for more, even when she left for years to study back east; even when she hung around unsavory characters like Scott?

  She leaned forward and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Don't pout, Jesse. You must have patience. Now, tell me about this train we're on. After all, it wasn't built when last I was here."

  He shook his head, deciding she was right and there would be better opportunities to press his advantage. But he made himself a promise that she would be his wife, with or without the damn gold.

  "They say when this is finished, it will be the most crooked railroad in the world because its whole course is one big curve. I'm not sure where the construction is at this point, but trains began running to Carson just last October. It's expected the whole route will cost about three million."

  "Good lord, that's a lot of money for -- how much road?"

  "The entire railroad will connect Reno, Truckee, Meadows and Steamboat, then Washoe and Eagle Valleys down to Carson City; a total of fifty-two miles. A very necessary investment."

  Ellie gave him a look of wonder. "Three million dollars’ worth?"

  "Considering the worth of the Comstock ores transported to the quartz mills, not to mention the necessary timber and cut lumber needed by the mines to continue production, and I'd say it was worth it. Besides, this train travels at twenty miles per hour, which is twice as fast as the stage."

  Ellie giggled at him and Jesse wondered why she thought he was so funny.

  "Wow, a whole twenty miles an hour."

  He frowned. "You don't think I'm serious about marriage, and now you laugh when I say this steam engine is the fastest thing around.” Jesse shut his mouth and crossed his arms over his chest, determined not to say another word until they got to Carson City.

  Ellie giggled harder.

  * * *

  Ellie rubbed the small of her back as she stepped onto the wood platform of the Carson City train station, stretching sore muscles. She knew she hadn't been fair to Jesse on the train, in both teasing him unmercifully about what they had done the night before, and about the speed of transportation. Sometimes she wished she could tell him about the future; not just speeding cars and traveling to the moon in rockets faster than he could conceive, but all the wonders of the modern world.

  Jesse threw their bags into the back of a buckboard and motioned for her to climb aboard with the old man handling the reins. She might miss pizza and cold beer, but at the moment a soft cushy car seat was much preferable to another ride on a wooden bench.

  "Is it too far to walk?" She questioned, refraining from rubbing her sore fanny.

  Jesse shrugged, digging a coin out of his vest pocket for the driver and instructing him to drop their bags at the Warm Springs Hotel.

  "I suppose you want to get right to work, looking for clues to this intrigue?" He questioned as he took her arm and turned towards town.

  Frankly, the instant his hand touched her bare elbow, Ellie's thoughts immediately raced ahead to the night, barreling right past all the questions in her mind about the bank records and Clayton Scott and Jesse's mine. Never had she let a man interfere with her life to this extent; and would wonders never cease, she didn't even mind.

  "Well, if we're walking past the bank, wouldn't it make sense to scope it out?" She made herself concentrate on matters at hand, instead of the delicious warmth of his hand on her arm.

  "Scope it out?" Jesse echoed her words as he held the door to the bank open for her.

  Ellie patted his cheek in an affectionate manner and breezed past him without explaining herself. As she hoped, he didn't ask what she meant.

  Cyrus Connors, according to the name plate, sat behind a huge desk to the right of the teller's cage, and Ellie decided to start with him.

  "Good afternoon, Mr. Connors, my name is Elizabeth Calhoun, from Peavine, and I would like to ask you some questions about my father's bank."

  The rotund man immediately stood and Ellie was gratified by the male chivalry of this century -- until he spoke. Instead of addressing her, he barely acknowledged her introduction with a slight nod of the head, instead turning his attention to Jesse.

  "Sir?" He questioned.

  "Jesse Cole, owner of the Nightingale Mine at Peavine Summit." The two men shook hands, leaving Ellie beginning to steam like the springs at Steamboat.

  Mr. Connors came around his desk and pulled up another chair in front. "Please, have a seat, Miss Calhoun." Again, he extended her a courtesy, but spoke only to Jesse.

  "What can I do for you, Mr. Cole?"

  "Actually, it is Miss Calhoun who has the questions about the Calhoun Bank & Trust of Peavine, which as she said was--"

  "--owned by my father." Ellie interrupted.

  Connors gave her an annoyed glance. "Perhaps your questions could best be answered by your father, then." The condescending sound of his nasal voice quickly grated on Ellie's nerves. She clasped her hands tightly together.

  "Perhaps if my father were still alive, I wouldn't find it necessary to ask you questions, sir, since apparently you don't have a clue as to what's happening." She could feel Jesse's hand on her arm. She hoped it was in support of her because she didn’t like to think he’d act like a male chauvinist.

  "Really, Miss, I am sorry, but what would I have to do with your father's bank?" His eyes suddenly widened and he stuttered, "I hope you're not implying I had something to do with his death?"

  "Honestly, why do men always think of themselves?" Ellie muttered under her breath as she sat back in her chair exasperated. Jesse chuckled beside her. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and Ellie took a fortifying breath.

  "Your sign says Carson City National Bank, does it not?" At the man's nod, she continued. "My father owned a bank. When he died, wouldn't someone from this national bank have been contacted to do an audit?”

  "Why?" The man questioned, sounding just like Lucky.

  Ellie threw her hands up in exasperation. “You mean that any records of my father’s transactions would only be at that bank? No one else has copies?” The man nodded. She stood to leave and Jesse rose with her.

  Cyrus Connors scooted around his desk, reaching for Jesse's hand in a greedy grasp. Ellie supposed he thought maybe Jesse would bring his gold to this bank.

  "I do apologize for any misinformation you may have gotten from this...female," the man sputtered ingratiating, "but you must know that all banks are solely owned and operated, so I couldn't possibly have anything to do with her father's bank, or his death," he added hastily.

  His back was turned to her, and he spoke in a low voice, but it was still plenty loud for Ellie to hear. "If I were you, I'd marry the little gal and get her with child so she can't be out and about and meddling in men's business." He nodded his head in emphasis.

  Ellie swung her handbag around to clobber the idiot, and would have succeeded if Jesse hadn’t glanced over the man’s shoulder and intercepted her projectile. He tucked her purse under her arm and latched on to her hand, tugging her away from the banker and out the door before she could control her anger enough to get a word out.

  "That imbecile." The word escaped and even though Ellie could see Zeke cringing in her mind's eye, she was mad.

  "Whoa, baby, calm down," Jesse used his claim on her to pull her close, transferring his hold to circling her waist.

  Ellie jerked to a stop on the boardwalk and swung around to face him. “You're not taking his side, are you?"

  "Do I look like a fool?" Apparently Jesse knew how to be politically correct.

  Ellie pursed her lips to look at him, knowing no way in hell Jesse Cole would ever be anyone's fool. Well, except maybe Elizabeth's, if they didn't get him out of this mess.

  She blew out an irritated breath. "Why did he talk as though I didn't exist and didn't know anything?"

  Jesse gave her a look Ellie had come to know meant he was thinking too mu
ch about what she said. That could lead to trouble if she didn't learn to curb her tongue. "One of these days,” he said, shaking his head, “I'm going to take a trip back east; to Boston and New York and all those places you've been. The way you talk sometimes, it's as though you lived on a different planet."

  Same planet, different century, Ellie thought wryly, before generating an excuse, as always, for her actions. "That's still no excuse for boorish behavior."

  Jesse shrugged, cupping her elbow and setting them in motion again. "I can’t keep apologizing for all the stupidity of other men, Ellie. You’ll just have to believe I try my best not to be like them.”

  Ellie gave him a smile. “I know you’re not, and believe me, I appreciate it more than you can know.”

  Their walk had gotten them to the courthouse, but a few questions and a quick examination of the assayer's records showed no liens against the Nightingale Mine at Peavine Summit. The Registrar of Deeds did say sometimes private deals with anonymous backers were made to raise money for the mining ventures on the Comstock, but they certainly didn’t keep those records. That information made Clayton's claim appear all the more valid.

  "Do we have time to go to the Mint yet today?" Ellie asked, squinting into the bright sunlight to the sandstone building across the street.

  "You are certainly full of energy, aren't you?"

  Jesse sounded as though he would rather be sitting in a bar drinking a cold beer, and Ellie certainly couldn't fault him for that. But given the uncooperative nature of the men she was encountering, she knew she'd find no answers at all without Jesse at her side. That thought grated on her liberated nature.

  "Look, I'm doing this for you, you know. I realize that you shouldn't be away from the mine for long, so the sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get back to Peavine."

  Jesse looked surprised that she would think of him. Men, she thought. If she only had more time, she'd teach him a thing or two about liberated women, supportive males, and the world of equality.

  As it was, she contented herself to exploring the Carson City Mint with him. They were told that the nearby prison had quarried the sandstone to build the building, and it had only been operational since February. The first coin struck was a Seated Liberty dollar, bearing the CC mint mark. Jesse traded some of his change for one and gave it to Ellie as a keepsake.

  They had taken the entire tour and listened to a weasel-looking man talk in a monotone for over half an hour before Ellie had to conclude that as much as she hoped otherwise, the mint would not provide them with any information. She had the feeling she was confusing it with a federal reserve bank. Even so, when they were introduced to Abe Curry, the superintendent, Ellie felt compelled to ask him about bank records in Peavine.

  "Ma'am, we mint coins, like double eagles, half eagles, and that seated Liberty dollar you're fiddling with. We don't keep records on what banks do. That's their business." With a sharp nod of his head, he excused himself, professing to be needed in the coiner's department.

  "Damn," Ellie swore, softly, hands on hips outside the Mint's doors.

  "When did you start swearing, El?" Jesse asked, his voice full of humor. "I think I'd better start keeping Lucky and Zeke up at the mine more."

  Ellie shrugged, not wanting to debate her language, background, or the lack of information they had gathered in their fruitless search for evidence against Clayton.

  "What now?" Jesse took off his hat as he spoke, wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. Late afternoon sun glinted off his hair, and Ellie reached up to touch the wayward curl that always hung across his forehead.

  She knew what she wanted. A cold glass of wine, a cool bath, and Jesse Cole, not necessarily in that order.

  He smiled at her and Ellie's heart melted. Bittersweet country songs floated through her mind, one phrase coming unbidden to her lips. "’I'll do anything you want me to, just to see you smile.’"

  That widened the grin on Jesse's lips. "Anything?"

  Chapter 10

  Anything proved to be a no-holds-barred, free-for-all, night of loving. Ellie had never been treated so royally -- from the scented bath Jesse ordered to the champagne dinner of mouthwatering roast beef, potatoes, and a whole basket of fresh fruit.

  It was his gentle, yet turbulent love making, though, that Ellie would treasure for the rest of her life. She smiled at the oxymoron, knowing it was the only way she could describe what had happened last night. He had taken her to the height of passion with breath-taking intensity, and in the aftermath he had kissed and caressed her into a gentle slumber, only to awaken her and repeat all those wondrous feelings.

  Her mind full of the rapture of the night before, Ellie never heard the door open, and squealed in fright when Jesse called to her.

  "Come on, sleepyhead. Either get out of bed right now, or I dump you into last night's cold bath water."

  "Go away," she mumbled into her pillow.

  "Are you always so agreeable in the morning?" She could hear the laughter in his voice. Reaching blindly beside her, she grabbed the pillow and heaved it in his direction.

  The instant his callused hand grabbed her ankle, she knew she was in trouble. Casually, almost seductively, he pulled her to the end of the bed. When she tried to kick him with her free foot, he grabbed and twisted her legs together, forcing her to roll over. She watched him as his gaze swept up her naked form. Passion flared.

  "Why don't you come back to bed instead?" Ellie stretched wantonly.

  Jesse groaned and Ellie thought she'd won, even though he was fully dressed. A surprised squeal escaped when he grabbed her and lifted her clear off the bed. He walked through the door to the bathing area, holding her over the tub.

  Ellie wrapped her arms around his neck, begging him not to drop her. The devil's own grin lit his face as he pried her hands loose and plopped her into the tub. Prepared for the cold water from last night, Ellie had to sigh as the warmth of it both surprised and delighted her. Just another instance when Jesse Cole proved his thoughtfulness and earned her love.

  "There's only one train to Steamboat Springs today and I need to be on it, so hurry up, or you won't get breakfast."

  "I go nowhere without coffee," Ellie shouted as he closed the door behind him.

  Within minutes, a knock on the door and a cautious, female voice announced she had "missy's" coffee if she would be allowed to enter.

  "A hot bath, fresh coffee and the love of a good man," Ellie mused. "Life can't get any better than this."

  * * *

  Late the next day, Ellie wondered if she had jinxed herself by speaking those words. They had reached Steamboat Springs and retrieved their horses, but several miles from Peavine her horse had thrown a shoe. With the supplies they'd picked up in Reno, they certainly couldn't ride double. When Jesse had insisted she ride his horse and he'd walk, she had said if he had to walk, so would she.

  "Ouch!" She groaned when another stone on the rough trail twisted her foot sideways.

  "If you weren't so stubborn, you wouldn't have blisters from those ridiculous boots." Jesse glared at her.

  "It's not my fault the horse threw a shoe," she retorted.

  Jesse sighed. "Elizabeth, I never said it was. Why are you so intent on causing an argument?"

  Ellie had come to realize Jesse only called her Elizabeth when he was mad at her. That suited her fine, because it somehow absolved her from blame. At the moment, though, that fact was neither here nor there. The closer they got to Peavine, the more nervous Ellie became.

  Would Elizabeth still be gone? Could she keep Clayton at a distance? Those were minor questions up against the biggest one weighing on her mind since they had made love in Steamboat.

  Could she follow through with their scheme and willingly leave Jesse when the time came?

  Ellie studied him as they walked along the trail which grew steeper as they ascended towards the mining town. Her gaze slid over jean-clad legs and tight buttocks, past a slim waist to his shoulders, str
aight even in the heat of midday. He had one hand wrapped around the reins of both horses and the other hovered close to his holstered gun.

  Ellie hurried to catch up. Her gaze jumped from his gun to his face and she saw his eyes flicker, continually surveying the terrain.

  "Are we in danger?" Her anger was forgotten as she sidled closer.

  "Wherever there are men and fortunes in gold, there’s danger."

  Ellie giggled.

  Jesse glared at her. "What's so funny?"

  "You sound so serious. Can't you just consider this an adventure? I do."

  He snorted. "I'll bet. Sometimes, lately, I think every day is an adventure for you."

  “You don't know how true that is,” Ellie muttered to herself, but refused to be drawn into another argument. She skipped forward and turned in front of him, momentarily walking backwards. He didn't stop until she'd circled his neck with her arms.

  "Then we might as well add a little spice to the adventure," she whispered just before she kissed him. She hung on, even when he tried to pull away, and finally his lips softened under hers and he kissed her back.

  "El, we're out in the open, in broad daylight," he protested.

  "So?" She kissed him again.

  "So, I can't remember," he murmured, wrapping his arms around her to draw her close.

  Jesse's experiences with Ellie over the last few days had been unique, to say the least, and while he could have sworn he heard bells a time or two, this was the first time he'd ever heard fireworks. It wasn't until she jerked her sweet mouth away from his with a yelp that he realized the popping sounds he heard were gunshots.

  The horses shied away as rock chips flew. Jesse released the reins, pulling his revolver with one hand and keeping his other arm around Ellie as he pulled her behind some rocks on the hillside. A rocky incline with few trees made it more difficult to scramble up the slope away from the direct line the shooters seemed to have of the path.