Sarah took that opportunity to teleport back to the room she was staying in at the Silver Spike to get herself cleaned up and to don her finest dress. If Cora was going to dress in her best gown then at least she could do was follow suit. It was a sunny day outside so Sarah selected a dark navy blue dinner dress from her closet. It consisted of a long thin jacket with dark blue embroidery and a matching skirt with ruffles, complete with a bustle. She also selected her favorite pair of black patent leather shoes that sported thick two inch heels. Properly outfitted for their excursion Sarah teleported herself back to the manor’s foyer, just in time to hear Cora coming down the stairs.
The moment Cora saw Sarah she clapped her hands with delight.
“I remember making that gown! It was one of my favorites. I am so glad to see that you ended up with it.”
“It’s one of my favorites, too,” Sarah told her. “I’m still trying to figure out how I can take them all with me when I go back home.”
Cora was wearing a cinnamon colored dress that buttoned all the way up to her throat. It had gold accents decorating the front with ten gold buttons running from chest to navel. The skirt had several gold pleats mixed in with the cinnamon and had gold embroidery along the edges.
Sarah eyed the dress with undisguised jealousy.
“I love the color! You are so talented!”
Cora flushed with praise.
“Thank you. The latest styles seem to change so fast that it’s nice to incorporate a few new techniques here and there.” Cora ran her hand along one of the golden edges of her flared skirt. “See the way this embroidery makes it look as though the skirt is flaring open? It really isn’t but is deliberately designed to look as though it does.”
“Very nice,” Sarah said appreciatively. “I’ll bet Luther loves that one.”
“It’s one of his favorites.”
Taking care not to rumple her dress, Cora climbed up onto the wagon’s seat and waited for Sarah to untie the reins from the hitching post.
“I’m so used to going into town by myself,” Cora told Sarah as she tightly gripped the reins in her hands. She nudged the horse forward once Sarah had joined her on the rickety seat. “Too many people will make Luther scowl. If my husband scowls then he becomes irritable and I have no desire to be anywhere around him when that happens. So I find it easier to make these journeys by myself.”
Sarah was staring at her in shock. Cora guided the mare down the driveway and glanced over at her.
“What? What’s the matter?”
“You just described my husband!”
“Your husband scowls, too? Don’t you just want to smack it right off his face?”
Sarah burst out laughing.
“Who says I haven’t?”
Cora giggled at the thought. “I thought it was only Luther and I who had that particular problem.”
“Have you forgetten that Luther and Steve are related?”
“A very good point, Sarah.” Cora urged the horse into a trot. “What do you hope to find in town?”
“I want to see how well our ruse worked last night. Are people talking about it? How effective was it? I want to see what their reactions are when we come strolling into town. If they avoid us then we’ll know it was a success.”
The wagon bounced and rattled down the gravel road. Sarah had to grip the wooden plank that served as their seat tightly so she wouldn’t be bucked off. Since her arrival here six months ago she’s had the misfortune of riding in several of them and each was just as uncomfortable as the last. Cora’s wagon, Sarah noted, was no different.
“How do you get used to all the bumps?” Sarah managed to get out between clenched teeth. “This is far and away the most uncomfortable way to travel. I wish you would have let me teleport us there. We’d already be there by now. You do realize that, don’t you?”
Nearly half an acre of pines trees passed by before Cora turned to look at Sarah.
“Of course, but then you’d miss all this scenery. Isn’t this lovely?”
“Yes, it’s great, but…”
“But?” Cora prompted. “What’s the matter?”
“This seat is uncomfortable. There’s no padding, or cushions, or anything else to make the journey pleasant.”
“Do you not have wagons in the future?” Cora asked, curious. “How do you go about getting around town?”
“I teleport,” Sarah told her, matter-of-factly.
“And for those that don’t?”
“We have cars.”
“Cars?”
“It’s something that hasn’t been invented yet. I don’t want to mess anything up and tell you something that you shouldn’t know. Yet. So I’ll just ask that you to trust me. You’ll love them.”
The two friends continued to talk about the similarities of their husbands, the picturesque scenery passing by, and (much to Cora’s delight) the wonderful gowns each of them were wearing until they noticed they had approached town. Cora had just guided the wagon past the city jail, which had several wagons and at least half a dozen horses tied up in front. Sarah groaned inwardly. Apparently Steve had made a bit of a mess when he had broken Luther out. They watched several men carry new cell doors into the jail as three men carried out two of the damaged doors.
Cora’s eyes widened as she glanced over at the damaged bars.
“Steve cut through the cells? That’s impressive. Most impressive, indeed.”
“Hey, I could have been in and out of there without damaging anything,” Sarah told her. “I still say I could have handled that jailbreak better.”
“I am thankful you stayed behind,” Cora told her as she guided her horse over to an open patch of green grass that had several of horse and wagons nearby. She set the brake and carefully climbed down. She waited for Sarah to join her before she hooked her arm through Sarah’s and guided them towards the closest row of shops. “I am envious. I would love to have a magical ability.”
“Steve wishes he had my jhorun all the time, too,” Sarah told her. They stepped up onto a wooden boardwalk spanning the entire length of the shops lining the street. “I personally think he’s just being polite and wouldn’t trade his fire throwing abilities for anything.”
Sarah looked around the bustling town. More people were arriving each minute, whether they were single riders on horseback or entire families arriving in buckboards similar to their own. Further down the street, in an open park with several benches scattered here and there, a small brass band had set up and were playing one song after the other. A crowd had formed and was taking up most of the room in the small park.
Sarah looked up and down the long boardwalk. Small tables had been set up every few feet and were heavily laden with all manner of fruits and vegetables. Interspersed with the farmers selling their crops were people peddling their goods. Fresh baked pies, homemade jewelry and trinkets, and baby clothes were just a few of the items Sarah could see.
“What’s going on? Is it some type of festival?”
Cora nodded. “That’s right. I had forgotten. Our harvest festival started today. It usually runs for four or five days.”
Sarah smiled. “Perfect. That means there are all kinds of people in town today. I wonder how we can find some of the sheriff’s men. I want to see how they’re doing.”
Cora shaded her eyes and slowly looked around town. While there were plenty of people milling about they didn’t recognize anyone from their performance last night. Cora tugged her arm towards a nearby store.
“Let’s stop in here. They sell tack in there. I need to pick up a new bridle.”
The store featured everything a farmer would need to take care of his animals. Saddles, harnesses, horse collars, feed, grain, and medicine were everywhere. If Cora needed a bridle then this is definitely where she was going to find it.
Cora picked out a simple leather bridle and paid for her purchase. After inspecting the workmanship of several brand new saddles they moved on to the next store. They felt the
heat from the forge even before they stepped inside. It was a blacksmith’s storefront. They could hear the clang of metal being pounded into shape from deep within the store. Cora automatically stopped.
“I don’t think I need to go in there,” she told her.
It was Sarah’s turn to pull her friend inside. “I’d like to look around, if that’s okay. I really haven’t had the opportunity to look through the shops here.”
“I thought you said you had been in town for six months?” Cora asked, confused. “Didn’t you do any shopping then?”
Sarah shook her head. “I didn’t feel like it. I was too worried about whether or not I’d ever see my husband again.”
Cora nodded compassionately. “I can understand that. Speaking from my own experience, I don’t think I’d ever be too distracted to shop.”
Sarah laughed. “You and my mother-in-law would get along well. She literally coined the phrase ‘shop ‘til you drop’.”
Cora giggled. “I like that. Yes, I think I would get along well with her. Well, what would you like to look for in here? We really must be careful. There’s dirt and soot everywhere.”
“I can see that. Don’t worry, we won’t be long. Steve has a strong interest in blacksmithing and I want to be able to tell him what this one was like.”
Rows of rakes, hoes, and scythes lined one wall. Another had huge bins full of nails and spikes. And yet another had horse shoes, plows, and other bits of metal ready to be assembled into something else.
“Are you looking for anything in particular?” Cora asked as she inspected horse shoes.
“Not really. I don’t see any swords or weapons in here so he probably wouldn’t be too terribly interested in this.”
“Swords?” a gruff voice barked from behind them.
Both women whirled around to see a huge bear of a man towering over them. Ordinarily someone that size would have frightened Sarah to death but he had such a harmless puppy-dog look on his face that she couldn’t help but smile up at him. Cora smiled up at the proprietor, too.
“Hello, Kendall. How are you today?”
“Ms. Miller! What a surprise to find you here! How can I be of service today?”
“Kendall, this is Sarah. She’s a friend of mine.”
Kendall went to shake her hand when he noticed his own was covered in dark smudges. He whipped his hand behind his back and simply nodded his head.
“A pleasure, ma’am. Any friend of Ms. Miller is a friend of mine.”
“How do you know Cora?” Sarah asked, curious.
“She made my beautiful Catherine her wedding dress. She still can’t stop raving about it. Is there something I can help you two lovely ladies with? Did I hear something about swords? You won’t find any of them in here. I’d consider it if enough people wanted them.”
“My husband has an interest in blacksmithing. I knew you wouldn’t have anything like that in here but I did want to be able to honestly tell him that I went in and checked.”
A huge smile appeared on Kendall’s face.
“No problem. Feel free to look around. If you need anything just holler. I have to finish an order for a small plow.”
Kendall retreated into the back areas of his shop and the loud clanging began anew. Cora gestured towards the door. Sarah nodded and was about to take a step in that direction when she came to a stop and pulled Cora next to her.
“You know a lot of people in town. Do you know who that is?”
Cora looked to see where Sarah was pointing. On the other side of the street from where they were standing was the Kootenai county telegraph office. Leaning up against the northern side of the building was a lone man who was staring straight at them. He appeared to be in his late teens or early twenties and was wearing a mish-mash outfit consisting of dark wool pants, a blue button-down long sleeved shirt, and a red sash around his waist. He also had a revolver on each hip.
“I don’t know who that is,” Cora whispered to her. “I’m sure I’ve seen him before. He sure does seems intent on what we’re doing, doesn’t he?”
“Yes, he does. Let’s go.”
They both stepped back out onto the boardwalk when a group of four men walked by. Sarah was ready to pull Cora back into the blacksmith’s shop when one of the four men dropped his gaze to the ground and stepped to the side, giving him as much room from the two women as possible as they passed. The man walking side by side with him glanced irritably at him but didn’t say anything. They kept walking, without so much as looking at them as they passed by.
“Did you see that?” Sarah asked, dropping her voice so she wouldn’t be overhead. “I think that man deliberately avoided you.”
Cora turned to look at the backs of the four retreating men.
“Which one? The one that stepped to the side? How can you be sure?”
Sarah shrugged. “I’m not. It just looked that way. Come on, let’s keep looking around. I want to put some distance between us and Mr. Creepy across the street.”
The next shop they visited must have been one of Cora’s competitors as she mumbled something under her breath and pulled Sarah into the store. A young girl of about twelve was behind the counter.
“Wow, she’s young,” Sarah observed.
“That’s Hattie,” Cora softly answered. “She’s Miranda’s daughter.”
“Who’s Miranda?” Sarah wanted to know. “The owner?”
“Yes. She has copied many of my designs and undercuts my prices.”
Sarah went to the closest rack and pulled out a pink frock coat that looked like it had ruffles for sleeves.
“Trust me; you have nothing to worry about.”
“That is definitely not one of my designs,” Cora told her. “I’m not a big fan of pink. Besides, the ruffles belong on the skirt or the bodice, never on the sleeves.”
The young girl from the counter approached them as they were perusing a rack of gowns in various shades of green.
“Can I help you with something? I… wait. I know you. Mama doesn’t like you very much.”
Cora smiled at the girl.
“I was just looking, Hattie. I like to see what other people have done to see if I am inspired to try something new.”
Satisfied with that answer, the girl returned to the counter.
Sarah had pulled a lime green gown from the rack and was inspecting the pleats in the skirt. None of the pleats were straight and one even had a break in the line, as though the seamstress had run out of thread. She replaced the dress on the rack and looked around. Sure, there were a few dresses that were nice but the quality of work was nothing compared to Cora’s. Cora tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention and pointed at the window.
“Our friend is following us.”
Sarah scowled. “What does he want with you? I have half a mind to drop him in the middle of the lake.”
“And if he drowned?” Cora prompted.
“I said I wanted to,” Sarah answered, with a mischievous smile, “I never said I’d actually do it.”
“Besides, he’s more interested in you than me.”
That got Sarah’s attention.
“What? Are you sure?”
“I’ve been watching him. I’ve moved around the store here, in clear view of the windows. He never once turned to see what I was doing. He only has eyes for you.”
Sarah frowned. “I don’t know him. I’ve never met him. That’s just creepy.”
“I agree. Let’s move on.”
They stepped out of the clothing store and saw the same four men from before step across the street and into the closest saloon. Sarah gave her companion a quick nudge before hurrying after them. They pushed through the swinging doors and settled into several chairs at a table at least twenty feet back from the man who had tried to avoid Cora. They should still be within earshot. Perhaps if they remained quiet and inconspicuous they would be able to overhear what the men were saying.
“Are you two lovely ladies here to take advantage o
f our free lunch?” a man’s voice cut in, causing both women to gasp with alarm. “My apologies, ladies; I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Sarah recovered first.
“It’s okay. Did you say free lunch?”
The tall man was wearing a red vest over a white long sleeved shirt, black pants and shoes, and had a white apron tied around his waist. A black bow tie and matching black sleeve garters completed the outfit. The bartender turned to gesture towards a long narrow table laden with plates of cold cuts, yellow cheese, bowls of black beans, and stalks of celery and carrots. There were also bowls of dill pickles, potato chips, pretzels, and salted peanuts.
“Please help yourself, ladies. Lunch is on the house as long as you each order two drinks.”
“Does an iced tea count?” Sarah asked.
The bartender nodded. “Of course.”
Cora smiled. “We’ll have two iced teas, please.”
“Coming right up.”
While their drinks were being prepared Sarah and Cora wandered over to the lunch table. Sarah chose a few cold cuts and a piece of cheese while Cora selected a piece of ham, a few pretzels, and several stalks of celery. The bartender returned to their table just as they did and served them their drinks.
Sarah had kept an eye on the men sitting several tables away. Thankfully none of them had bothered looking their way, which she took as a good sign, but a little part of her pride was annoyed. Not one of the men had even bothered to check them out! She knew that she and Cora could turn heads no matter what room they were in, as evidenced by their leisurely stroll down the boardwalk. However, here in this saloon, where there were only two occupied tables, not one of the men had bothered to look up. Hopefully they had more pressing things on their mind.
Sarah took a sip of her tea and smiled. Unsweetened tea was so much better than the sweet tea most people enjoyed from their time. Then she saw Cora dump several spoonfuls of sugar from a sugar jar into her tea and mix it together. Good thing she hadn’t said anything.
A Portal for Your Thoughts Page 26