by Jodi Thomas
“How much of this is your own need, Mina?” His voice softened slightly as he took a seat opposite her. “Don’t you know why your mother abandoned you? Are these all the things you need to know from her?”
Mina’s back stiffened as if he’d lashed her with a quirt. “Me da told me nothing other than she left him…us…when I was two months old, and that every day of my life since then I reminded him of her. That’s the sum total of what I know.”
“And how long did he stay around?”
“Until I was twelve. And he was not the one who left. He kicked me out.”
“On the streets?”
“A far better place than the so-called home he provided.”
“Care to tell me why you were kicked out?”
“As ye said. Some things are just no other’s business.”
“Then we agree. You don’t talk to Violet any more about her mother and I won’t ask you about your father.”
“I’ll not lie to the child. If she asks me and I know, I’ll tell her.”
He stood. “Then I may have to ask you to leave.”
“And that choice, Briar Duncan, may one day break yer daughter’s heart as well as yer own.”
Chapter 10
Nothing had gone right for Briar all day. The 8:10 was late. One of the cows broke out of its holding pen, and Violet had ignored his warning of the past three days about flying her kite too close to the Eclipse. She’d tangled it in the windmill’s blades and destroyed the toy beyond repair. Violet and the windmill had been cranky ever since.
Mina’s mood was no better. The woman had been curt to him ever since he scolded Violet and said she should take such nonsense elsewhere. Mina retaliated with her own reprimand, telling him to quit yelling like a banshee and take his anger out on the person at whom it was truly directed.
Damned if she wasn’t right and damned if she hadn’t been ever so courteous to every male who’d walked into the telegrapher’s office since she’d hired on. He was glad it was time for her to be off duty so he could concentrate on what he should be doing instead of what everyone else was trying to do with her. Briar was damned mad and he didn’t care who knew it.
“You two ready to head home?” he asked, irritated that three men waited in front of Mina’s desk to send a telegram. Violet sat behind her on the cot, using some of the glue Mina had given her to repair the treasures she’d found along the roadside.
When had news gotten around about his new telegrapher? He never seen this much participation from male members of this community in sending wires. The men usually sent their wives or sisters to do this kind of triviality, spending their time on heavier tasks. But, if he’d watched one man go into the telegrapher’s office, he’d seen twenty. You’d think they never saw a beautiful woman before.
And Mina was beautiful, the more he looked at her. The more he knew about her. The high color of anger on her cheeks had only made her eyes look more golden. The stiff arch of her back every time he walked in to check on Violet had only defined Mina’s voluptuous figure.
Voluptuous. The word echoed in his brain and sent his blood coursing with heated memories. Hell, he’d been reading too many fashion books lately. No man should have to gauge the difference in buying full-figured, voluptuous, and petite clothing. That was women’s work!
Mina laughed so hard she snorted.
What the hell did Harris say to her that made her laugh so hard? Briar listened closer to the conversation she was having with her current customer, irritated that his mind had drifted from the task at hand. Damned if he hadn’t been unfocused all day.
He reminded himself that he usually found Brett Harris a likeable soul. Why couldn’t he have inherited more of his dad’s height and a little less of his mother’s good looks? “I said, are you ready for us to change out hands, Miss McCoy?”
“Excuse me, gentlemen, it seems I must get off the clock.” Her smile could have melted the snow atop the Rockies four hundred miles away. “Me boss is of a mind to save the railroad a few pittance. He or Sam will be helping ye now.”
She stood and moved with such fluid grace that all four men’s heads turned in unison to watch her. “Are ye ready for a bite to eat, lassie?” she asked, helping Violet gather her things and stow them into the pouch.
A doughboy stepped out of line behind Harris and offered to carry the pouch for Violet. “We can’t have a little thing like you carry such a big old bag now, can we, miss?” He tipped his hat to Mina. “May I have the pleasure of escorting you and the little lady home or, better yet, could I interest the two of you in joining me for supper?”
Mina shook her head. “Perhaps another time, sir. ’Tis other plans I’ve made for the evening already.”
Other plans? With whom? Briar stewed.
“Corporal Tuz, miss. You can reach me over at the Amarillo Hotel. At least until I’m called to El Paso.”
“Till another day then, Corporal.”
Till the caprock collapses, Briar vowed. “I’ll see you home,” he insisted.
“We know the way.” Mina gently took Violet’s hand and swept past Briar before he could object further. All three men in line doffed their hats as the females passed.
“Oohwee, I’d like to drink my fill of some of that Irish whiskey. I’ll bet she can—”
Briar grabbed the man by his lapel and rammed him up against the office wall. His fist knotted the broadcloth shirt, squeezing off the foul words that might have ended the sentence. “I’ll thank you not to talk like that about a lady in my company.”
“I-I’m s-sorry, Duncan. I meant n-no—”
“Then watch what you say.” Briar released his hold, aware that he’d allowed all the tension of the past few days to form the fury of his fist. He was ready to kill the man if necessary, all because he’d slighted the woman he cared about. And care about Mina he did, in a depth he’d let no emotion reach in years. Briar backed way, lest his opponent notice and think he feared completing the threat.
“Your machine’s going off,” Brett Harris announced. “Do I need to call Sam in here to take it for you?”
Briar noticed the hum of the wire, realizing it had been sounding off for a while. He’d thought his rage had taken voice and sang through his veins. Get back to work, man, and get her out of your thoughts. Out of your blood. “Thanks Brett. That won’t be necessary. I’ll take it.”
Arriving Amarillo by morning of the 26. Stop. Bringing my wife with me. Stop. You read right. I said “wife.” Couldn’t stop myself. Stop. Nathaniel. Stop. A little telegraph humor. Stop. Get it? Stop.
P.S. Never guess who’s on the eastbound headed your way. Stop. Charlie Chaplin, the film star. Stop. Heard he’s heading to Europe. Stop. Might want to give Mayor Beasley the heads up. Stop.
Nathaniel was finally coming home. And with a wife!
“Bad news?” Brett asked.
“No.” Briar placed the telegram to the side and reached for the message Brett wanted to send. “As a matter of fact, it’s good. Things will start getting a little easier around here. Nathaniel’s on his way home tomorrow.”
“Does that mean you won’t need your new telegrapher?” Brett’s question stirred the other men into further comments.
“I hope she sticks around town.”
“I think you ought to keep her on and let Nathaniel help somewhere else.”
“We’ll decide all that when Nathaniel gets here.” Briar didn’t want to hear any more. His head already began to throb with the decisions he knew he’d have to make within the next twenty-four hours. Why keep Mina on after Nathaniel returned? He could let his friend and bride have the house as long as they allowed Violet to keep her room. He could continue to sleep here at the station, until he found some other place for him and Violet. Maybe Nathaniel’s wife would be willing to watch after Violet while they worked. After all, school would start up soon again, and it wasn’t like Violet would be taking up most of her time as it had Mina’s the past two days.
T
hen again, a new bride might not want to be saddled with watching a child that wasn’t her own.
“Next?” Briar held out his hand for the next missive. He wanted nothing more than for Sam to finish up with that last delivery so he could take over the wire for him. He made quick work of the remaining requests and took in two more messages before his replacement arrived.
“I’m going to run this over to the mayor and check on Violet, then I’ll be back.”
“Still sleeping on the cot?” Sam asked, taking his seat at the wire.
Briar hadn’t told his coworker that he’d not tried to help find Mina another place to stay and didn’t feel like a long discussion now. “Yeah, looks like for a while now. If Nat’s bringing home a wife, they’re going to need a place to stay.”
“That mean Miss McCoy will be looking for one too?”
Add that to another list of his decisions to make. He supposed Violet could share her room until one opened up at the hotel or boarding house. “Women sure do add a whole lot of trouble to a man’s life, don’t they?”
Sam grinned. “Yeah, but they’re worth it.”
“Shut up and wipe that grin off your face.” Briar felt his mood lighten slightly and was grateful that his barrel-chested friend always easily put him in a better mood. He was a family man with six daughters and a wife who could do no wrong in his eyes. He might not have the wealth of some of the others around town, but he was richer than most in other ways. “You’re just spoiled rotten to the core.”
“Uh-huh, and loving every minute of it. You ought to rope that Irish hellion for yourself, laddie.” Sam imitated their coworker’s brogue.
“I don’t need to. She’s already thrown a loop herself and almost got me hog-tied,” he finally admitted to his friend and even to himself. “Almost.”
Sam’s laughter echoed over the incoming message which reminded Briar that he needed to be on his way to the mayor’s house and to decide just what he planned to do with Miss Mina McCoy.
“And you say Chaplin’s arriving tomorrow?” Mayor Beasley’s face beamed with pleasure. The ceiling fan over the tall man’s head chased the smoke away from the cigar that puffed steadily amid its mooring between his broad span of teeth. The black pin-striped waistcoat he wore nearly swelled to its seams as he puffed his pleasure. “Did Nathaniel say how he got the information?”
“No, but you know Nat. He wouldn’t get you all riled up, knowing how big a fan you are. If he says Chaplin will be on the eastbound, then count on it. That means he’ll arrive late afternoon.” Briar watched the man grab a pen and start writing.
“We’ll need to rouse the Ladies Auxilary and have them fire up their ovens.” His Honor scribbled as fast as he talked. “And I’m sure the churches will allow us to borrow their tables to set up along the platform. We can put up the banners we use for the Fourth, and I’ll have Silas inform the band to polish up their instruments and brush off their uniforms.”
“So we’re going full throttle on this?” Briar asked after he’d heard enough to keep him and the rest of the community up all night making preparations for Chaplin’s arrival.
“Of course, man.” Surprise raised Beasley’s eyebrows almost to his hairline. “It’s not every day a man of his re-known and influence graces our township. Just think of the interest Amarillo will gain once the world knows he’s been given the key to our city. Yes, yes. I deem this our civic duty to make him feel most welcomed.”
“The train only has a thirty-minute stop. He’ll barely have time to freshen up, much less eat or anything else you’ve got planned.”
“At least it will be available to him. Savory food, fine music, and convivial company. He can choose whichever he prefers for that thirty minutes.”
“Then you best let me get started on all of this.”
“My secretary will call the Auxilary. You call the others. Send me a bill for any charges you accumulate. Oh and invite that lovely young lady I’ve seen around town with your daughter. I hear Chaplin appreciates a handsome woman.”
“Chaplin and every man west of the Mississippi, it seems,” Briar muttered on his way out.
Chapter 11
Mina and Violet arrived back from Boot Hill well past sundown. She thanked the preacher for the ride and gently lowered the sleeping child onto her shoulder.
“I’ve never seen her so tired before.” The preacher thumbed back the black slouch hat he wore. “But then I’ve never seen her remain quiet for that long either. She was quite the somber soul this evening.”
“She had a lot to think about, Reverend. Four years of wondering in that little imagination would be an ballyhoo of exhaustion. Now she knows what a grave site looks like and what it means. The lass is too smart and she wouldna stop asking me questions. Better that I satisfied her curiosity about a graveyard than have her stumble over Katie’s grave. But ’tis sure and certain I am, once I tell her da what I’ve done, he will send me on my way. Still, I know I did the right thing.”
“Do you want me to talk to Briar for you?”
“No, Reverend. ’Tis my doing. ’Tis I who will suffer the man’s anger.”
The sound of hammers echoed in the dusk, urging Mina to look past the preacher’s surrey. “It seems some late builders are working this fine Friday night. New kit houses going up?”
The preacher shook his head. “I don’t believe so. I noticed a lot of the striped banners we hang over the storefronts on the Fourth of July are in place. Looks like we may be having a big to-do tomorrow. Though, I don’t remember being informed of such.” He tipped his hat again. “If you’ll excuse me, Miss McCoy, I’ll see you safely inside then I’ll go find out what’s stirred up my flock.”
“Violet and I are safe enough. Her father will be checking on us soon. I thank ye for providing the ride and the fine company, sir.”
“Good evening then.”
“And to ye.”
Mina walked up to the porch then turned to see one last time what stirred the citizens of Amarillo before going in. The streets were alive with activity. People hustled to and fro. Model Ts and horse-drawn surreys trailed each other down the roadway, carrying colorful bundles and baskets full of items she couldn’t define from here. She’d lived plenty of mean places, but Amarillo wasn’t one of them. The golden city of the Texas panhandle might be drought-ridden at the moment but it was awash with a community of people who worked together to make it a happy one.
A sense of peace settled over Mina and she allowed herself a moment to savor the feeling that at last she was in a place she would like to make her home. She admired the town and its people, she adored the child she held in her arms, and she loved the man who was too obstinate to know his own heart.
Well, two could play at that game, she decided, opening the door and stepping inside. She’d shown him that he had come to mean something to her, and he brushed her away as if she were a pesky fly buzzing around his head. Pride was not new to her, and Mina refused to let him know how deeply it hurt that his feelings toward her, apparently, were not as strongly felt as hers were toward him. She didn’t need him. She didn’t need anyone. She’d proven herself quite capable all on her own.
But pride proved a lonely companion. She found little comfort in being adept and capable if she couldn’t share those abilities with someone. Do things for someone. Love and be loved by someone. That someone she had longed for had finally taken on a name—Briar Duncan.
And love him she did. She’d known it the minute she kissed him the second time. No, she first suspected it even before then…when their eyes met after she stepped off the train. It was as if whatever love she’d wanted had dared Mina to look beyond the glass surface that separated her from her future and the happiness she’d searched for all her life.
And now because Briar wouldn’t let go of his past, neither of them would have the future she knew felt right for all three of them.
Maybe if she left, Briar would realize what he lost and would come after her. But the thoug
ht of leaving him, leaving Violet, nearly ripped the heart from Mina’s chest. She held Violet tighter, unable to consider a life now without either of the Duncans in it.
How could her own mother have left a two-month-old and a man she loved? How could she endure the pain that weakened Mina’s knees and made her feet plant themselves like roots so they wouldn’t carry her away from where she belonged? How did a woman walk away and never come back?
She couldn’t have unless she’d never loved them.
The cold reality that Colleen McCoy had never loved this deeply brought the tears that, to Mina’s great surprise, allowed her to finally forgive the woman. How could she blame someone for what she did not know or couldn’t feel?
The anger and hurt of years calmed into a quiet resolve of pity. She vowed in the morning to tell Briar of her love for him. To let him know that she would wait until he was ready to accept that love, no matter how long it took. And to let Violet know that she would remain in Amarillo and would always be near if she needed her. She would be no Colleen McCoy and run away. She would stay and fight for what she wanted.
Mina elected not to turn on the light since she saw one shining from beneath the doorways of both bedrooms. Briar had obviously been here and gone, leaving the lights on to guide them in. When she opened the door to the child’s room, she discovered she was right in her assumptions. The covers had been turned down and Violet’s nightdress laid out. An aroma of something delicious-smelling emanated from the towel-wrapped plate sitting on the nightstand. He’d obviously left supper for the child. Mina knew, without doubt, there would be one in her room, too.
His room. She reminded herself of the dozen kindnesses Briar had offered her the past few days. He’d made sure she was comfortable, gave her employment. He’d cooked for her and helped her hunt for keepsakes. He’d even begun repairing some of them for her. He may not love her yet, but he cared for her. That was clear in his every deed, no matter what he said to her. She just needed to stay around and let love settle in for him. It had been clear from the first, and she was quicker at determining what was right between them.
