Wyoming Mail-Order Bride, page 15
Craig decided he’d call together some of the homesteaders and find a way to get more wood and coal for the stoves at the church. The community needed to show it respected the courts and the law if they expected the children to be raised to do the same. The church would have more dignity than this place. And they needed to build a school, too.
Already, dozens of miners were milling around in the saloon, trying to arrange themselves into friendly groups. The entertainment for the day was over, but they weren’t ready to go back to their diggings. Craig didn’t blame them. It was too cold to work anyway. Several of the men were getting set to play checkers. A table of six sat there arguing about something. Their coats were ragged; their hats had holes in them, sometimes from what looked like bullets.
Robbie stopped and Craig nudged him forward with a gentle pressure on his shoulder. He wanted them both to get out in the fresh air even if that they would be cold. But the boy didn’t move. Instead, Craig felt the muscles in Robbie’s back bunch up to resist going forward.
“I don’t s-see him,” Robbie spoke.
“Who?” Craig asked although he suspected.
“The d-dog.”
“The bartender likely has him in the back room,” Craig said. That’s what he’d do with a wild animal anyway. “The mutt probably doesn’t like so many people around.”
Robbie nodded. “I d-don’t, either.”
Craig recognized his mistake. He didn’t want Robbie to think the dog was like him. Robbie was a mild-mannered boy; that wolfhound was a raging beast—at least when he was hungry. They had nothing in common. But, then, if Robbie saw the dog again, he might understand that.
Craig was tall enough to look over the heads of some of the men so he could see Bill standing behind his counter, waiting for the next drink orders. Craig motioned for the man to meet them at the end of the counter.
“Let’s go see the dog,” Craig said.
At that news, Robbie happily started to walk.
Craig managed to dodge most of the drinking men, and soon he and Robbie were standing at the corner of the counter. Bill had a dish towel draped over his shoulder and he was clearly doing good business.
“Robbie here wants to see the dog,” Craig said when he got close enough. “Is he in the back room?”
Bill shook his head. “He’s gone.”
“Gone?” Craig was surprised. “Did he run away?”
The dog was feral enough to just shoot out the door if it took the notion into its head. Craig hoped Robbie knew enough about animals to understand they did not all like to be enclosed.
But the bartender was shaking his head. “One of the men that came in with you took the dog.”
“That came in with me?” Craig asked. The bartender knew Finn, the reverend and Dry Gulch. Craig didn’t remember any strange men that the bartender wouldn’t know entering the saloon around the same time as they did, but there had been so much confusion that it was possible.
“The d-dog wouldn’t leave,” Robbie said, his voice cracking. He was close to tears. “He knew I’d be b-back for him.”
“I’m sorry, lad,” the bartender said. “I didn’t know you wanted to take him.”
Robbie looked up at Craig, but he wasn’t accusatory. Still, Craig regretted not having the bartender keep the dog for Robbie. They could manage one more mouth to feed.
“Maybe the man who took the dog is still around,” Craig offered. “Let’s go outside and look.”
Craig looked down at the boy. “Here. Let me get the scarf around your neck better. And pull down the hat on your head. And mittens. Remember your mittens.”
Craig felt for the coins in his pocket. Any man in the saloon would sell that dog to him for a two-bit piece, and he had several with him. If he had to, he’d go higher. But he had no doubt he could buy the dog for Robbie once he found the man who had acquired him.
When they were both bundled up, Craig led Robbie out of the saloon. The boy was fairly bouncing with excitement.
“Should I c-call the dog?” Robbie asked when they reached the saloon door.
“Let’s look around first,” Craig suggested. “We don’t want to scare him.”
“He w-won’t be afraid of me,” Robbie said with confidence.
Unless his ears were playing tricks on him, Craig thought that Robbie’s stuttering had lessened. If it was the prospect of having a pet that was doing that, Craig wished he’d found a dog for the boy earlier.
The icy wind slammed into Craig and Robbie as they stepped through the saloon door. Gray clouds hung in the sky and the snow kept falling. Craig looked at his wagon, hoping Vivian and the girls had gone down the street to the general store. The wagon was empty. He looked at the ground and saw footsteps that appeared to belong to them.
Craig shifted his legs so that he took the brunt of the wind and then pulled Robbie close to him. “Let me look for a bit and see if I can find that dog.”
Craig searched the street up one side and down the other. There were only a few people out and most of them were moving fast. It was clear no dog trotted along beside them. The tracks were so scuffed in the snow along the street that he could not tell if a dog had walked there recently. Then he noticed the reverend’s wagon was still standing on the road up from the saloon. If he wasn’t mistaken, Robert was crouched down in the back of that wagon, huddled in a mountain of quilts. Craig figured the other man would have seen anyone leaving the saloon with a dog.
“Keep your head down and let’s go see what Robert knows.” Craig tipped his head down so the snow wouldn’t hit his face and Robbie did the same as they walked the few yards to the wagon.
“Robert,” Craig called as they drew near. The man’s face appeared in an opening in the quilts. Irrationally, Craig noted that the man looked every inch a gentleman even though he was buried like a groundhog. “We’re looking for that dog. Have you seen—”
Craig stopped the moment he saw an animal’s leg sticking out from the second pile of quilts Robert had arranged in the wagon.
“You have that dog?” Craig asked Robert. What would that man from back east do with a dog?
“He has the dog?” Robbie echoed in excitement.
Craig nodded and then addressed Robert. “I’d like to buy the dog from you.”
“It’s not for sale,” Robert said as he slipped the quilts off his head and sat there looking more like the judge than Craig appreciated.
“Why not?” Craig had to ask even though he was already beginning to suspect he wouldn’t like the answer.
“He’s a present for my son,” Robert said smoothly, turning his attention to Robbie. “What do you say, Robbie? Would you like your father to give you a dog?”
Robbie’s face went white and Craig knew it wasn’t the cold.
“Who’s your son?” Robbie asked quietly, looking stricken.
“Name your price,” Craig interrupted, his voice harsh. “You’ve got no call to do this.” He didn’t want any man teasing Robbie. Or maybe tormenting would be a better word.
“A man should be able to give his son a dog,” Robert said with a malicious smile. “It’s one of those things a boy will remember when he’s a man.”
Craig figured Robbie would remember this, all right.
“What do you say, Robbie?” Robert asked. “You’re my son. The dog is for you.”
After a distressed glance up at the man, Robbie kept his eyes down. Then he shook his head and backed away, reaching out until he found Craig’s hand.
“Well, maybe later,” Robert said, revealing little emotion. “I plan to bring the dog with me, so if you change your mind, let me know. He’s a noble animal, and I don’t think it’s right that he has to go around begging for food from every stranger he meets.”
Robbie took another step back. “He doesn’t b-beg. I’ve seen dogs c-crawl on their bellies and h-he doesn’t do that.
Craig knew good intentions when he saw them, and there was nothing worthy about the eastern man’s plans. He didn’t blame Robbie for being tempted, but what a coldhearted thing for Robert to do to a child, especially one he wanted to claim as his own.
“Let’s go find your sister and Becky,” Craig said to Robbie. He added Vivian’s name in his head just for the pleasure of remembering it, but he didn’t want to say it in front of Robert.
They both turned and walked. Their boots crunched as they walked through the packed snow. Craig expected Robbie to turn and look back at the dog, but the boy didn’t. He was a good soldier, but it was a sorry state of affairs.
“I’m sorry,” Craig said. “I love you as my son, but Robert has claim to you, too. That’s one of the reasons we are meeting today. To see who the judge thinks should be your father.”
“I want it to be you,” Robbie said.
Craig put his hand on the boy’s shoulder as they walked. He had never felt as helpless in his life. He’d prayed until his heart was weary and he had no peace. How could he expect Robbie to accept this when he couldn’t?
Craig stomped the snow off his boots before opening the door of the general store so that Robbie could enter before him. The warm air was a relief, and the twin smells of spice and pickles floated over them. The small windows lining one side of the building were frosted from the cold; the ones in the front were scraped clean. A thin light filtered in, showing off the merchandise that filled the shelves. Bolts of fabric were laid out on a table. Craig took off his mittens so his hands would take in the heat quicker. Then he tugged off Robbie’s mittens and unwound the scarf that was wrapped around the boy’s face.
“I think we should each have a stick of peppermint,” Craig said as he turned Robbie slightly and pointed him toward the glass front on the counter. There were licorice whips, lemon drops, horehound drops and the peppermint sticks both children loved.
Robbie picked up his step at that. Craig assured himself he wasn’t bribing the boy. He did know that a piece of candy wouldn’t win out over Robbie’s desire to have that dog around, but he wanted to offer some solace.
“Me, too, Daddy,” the bright voice of Katy sounded before he noticed she had come from behind to stand beside him. He turned then and saw Vivian and Becky next to Katy.
“Of course, you, too,” Craig said as he bent to give the girl a quick hug. He’d never been more grateful for his two children than he was today.
“You’re welcome to have one, too,” Craig said to Becky. “The children love the peppermint sticks, but you’re free to choose whatever candy you’d like.”
Becky eagerly joined the other two children at the counter.
“You, too,” Craig said softly when he and Vivian were alone. He reached out and took her hands, and they stood there, looking into each other’s eyes. He wouldn’t have taken her hands if he’d thought about it. She’d made it clear she wasn’t interested in marrying him. But he still wanted to please her.
Vivian turned her face up and smiled.
“I’ll take a peppermint stick,” she said finally, but she didn’t move.
Maybe she would change her mind about marrying him, Craig thought uncertainly. Since the sky outside was overcast, there were many shadows within the store. Craig wondered if that was why Vivian had swept her veil back further than she usually wore it. He hoped she would wear the veil less over time. It was true that her skin was a dark red where it had burned all those years ago, but she was a beautiful woman and the scars did not take away from that. And her smile warmed a man’s heart.
Craig was content. He knew that Mrs. Hunt could give the children more expensive presents than he could ever hope to, but he did what he could and he offered it with love. He had to trust that that would be enough to keep them with him. As for Vivian’s place in his future, he figured there was no need to ponder that. He needed to confess everything that had gone on in New York on the night she’d been injured. Once he did that, she would likely leave. And he wouldn’t be able to blame her for doing so.
* * *
“Be careful with Kitty,” Vivian said as she stood behind Katy at the counter. The cat was looking around like he was picking out his own treat. If he ever settled on anything, he could bound away from Katy before anyone could stop him. Fortunately, the hams were hanging from the high beams of the store.
“I thought Mrs. Hunt would be with you,” Craig said as he followed them over to the counter. A box of crackers sat under the sweets. An open barrel of pickles sat in front of the counter with the smell of vinegar strong around it.
“Oh, she’s been here,” Vivian said, an edge to her voice. The woman had purchased a doll for Katy that was the most expensive one in the store. “She bought every toy there was on the shelves for Katy and Robbie. And then she went down the street to send a telegram. Probably to ask for more money.”
“Nothing for Becky?” Craig asked.
Vivian shook her head. “Not that we would expect it.”
Craig winced. “She’s wooing my two, I guess.”
Vivian grunted. “She says she’s making up for every Christmas there ever was. Only she’s not waiting for Epiphany to give the gifts to the children. She says she wants them to experience the presents for a longer time. Whatever that means.”
“It means she’s trying to buy their cooperation for going to live with her,” Craig said. “She wants them to get used to having elaborate toys. By the time Epiphany rolls around, she’s hoping they will have their trunks already packed.”
Vivian could see how concerned Craig was.
“Don’t give up yet,” she said, fighting the urge to reach out and take his hands again. She needed to temper her feelings if she was going to be as impartial as the judge wanted in her role. “The children may surprise you.”
“They’re just so young,” Craig said, looking down. “I can’t expect them to withstand the temptations she is offering.”
Vivian knew his fears, and she worried about the same thing. Would the children even understand what they were giving up by agreeing to go with Mrs. Hunt? Katy seemed to know what was at stake, but she was only four years old. She could be swayed by some new fancy toy and not realize the decision was permanent. That might be part of Vivian’s job as the court’s representative for the next nine days.
“Where’s Finn?” Craig asked.
“He went to talk to the reverend,” Vivian said. “We ordered so many cooking supplies and then Mrs. Hunt added the gifts for the children. We can’t haul everything and us in the wagon. We’re hoping the reverend will agree to follow us home with his wagon.
“She’s buying that much?” Craig turned to her.
“Mrs. Hunt is paying for all those gifts she wants,” Vivian answered. “A doll for Katy that is almost as tall as she is. A case of cast-iron soldiers for Robbie. A top that twirls for Robbie. A small necklace for Katy. And more. I didn’t know how to stop her. But I did say you wanted the food to be added to your account so her bill was separate.”
“Thank you,” Craig said. “A man needs to have some pride. And we needed supplies anyway. I would have needed to come to Cheyenne today with or without the judge’s order.”
By then, they were up to the counter and paying the storekeeper for the peppermint sticks. Afterward, the five of them headed to a wooden bench along the left wall of the store. They sat there and enjoyed their candy.
Vivian and Craig were in the middle of the bench, and she liked the way it made her feel to be sitting shoulder to shoulder with him. His arms were strong, and she relaxed, sensing she was protected. She even slanted her hat away so that the brim didn’t interfere with them being close. He had seen her face, so she didn’t worry overmuch about her veil.
“Should we buy a peppermint stick for Ga’ma?” Katy asked as she sucked on the hard candy she had in her hand. She and Becky sat on the other side of Vivian.
“What do you think?” Craig turned to Vivian.
She smiled. “Mrs. Hunt will fuss and spit and then she’ll say you shouldn’t be ridiculous and then she’ll accept it and put it in her purse to give to Katy later.”
Vivian looked at the girl, who shook her head. “Ga’ma will like it.”
“Maybe we should buy one for the man with the dog, too,” Robbie said.
Craig stopped smiling, and Vivian watched all of the happiness fade from his face. Something was wrong and she didn’t know what it was “Who’s the man with the dog?”
“Robert,” Craig answered in a clipped tone. Then he angled away from Robbie so only Vivian could hear. “He took ownership of the dog from the saloon knowing Robbie had grown attached to that big mutt. Robert said he wanted to give the dog to his son. His son. I think Robert is trying to tempt Robbie to agree to go back east with him and Mrs. Hunt. All Robbie needs to do is accept that he is Robert’s son.”
“But that’s not right,” Vivian insisted. “He might be Robert’s son, but you were the one who raised him. He shouldn’t try to make that kind of a bargain.”
Craig shrugged. “Robbie won’t even say the man’s name now. But what he’s doing is legal.”
The door to the store burst open, and Mrs. Hunt stepped back inside. A thin layer of snow clung to her cloak and hat. Cold air had come in with her, and she stomped her feet on the plank floor to rid them of the packed snow on the bottom of her black shoes.
“I don’t see how anyone can live in such as freezing place as here,” the older woman declared as she looked around glaring into the shadows. “Why, my bones are even feeling it.”
“It’s cold in New York City, too,” Vivian replied mildly.
