by Annie Boone
“Would you like to have a seat here in the lobby and visit for a while?” she asked.
His eyes darted around the room and he finally looked at her. “I need to get back. I have a busy day tomorrow and need to be up and our early. Maybe some other time. Have a good evening.”
She bowed her head in disappointment. When she looked up he was already heading for the door to leave. “Thank you for a lovely evening,” she said.
James never even heard her as the door closed behind him before the words were even out of her mouth.
Chapter 11
The next morning Jewel sat glumly around her hotel room. When noon rolled around, she’d had enough. Jewel wasn’t going to just sit around doing nothing for the rest of her life. That wasn’t what she’d come here for. Even if James couldn’t go for a walk, that didn’t mean she couldn’t. Jewel put on her hat and pinned it securely in place. If she could walk around in the streets of New York, she could handle a cow town.
Besides the annoyance and cabin fever, she was hungry. The first thing she needed to do was find something decent to eat. She hoped it wasn’t as challenging to find a meal as it was to get James to have a conversation. If it was, she knew she’d die of starvation and never be heard of again.
Once outside, though, Jewel was confronted with how truly different it was. Instead of paved streets, they were plain dirt. Some places had paved sidewalks, but most of the time the sidewalks were raised boardwalks. Everything was dusty, which Jewel considered an improvement over the grimy streets she’d left behind in New York.
More than anything else, though, Jewel noticed what wasn’t there. The short buildings went unnoticed in favor of the open blue sky above them. How uplifting it was to look up into the sky in the middle of the city and see more than just tall buildings! She’d never even thought before how depressing it was to be so closed in. There was more open space in this street than Jewel usually saw in a month. It was wonderful!
She walked further down the street and found a little shop where she was able to get a bowl of soup. She sat alone in the shop and ate chicken soup and bread while she watched the people go by. She chuckled to herself when she compared the foot traffic in Laramie to that in New York City. It took her about fifteen minutes to eat her lunch. In that time, she probably saw twenty people walk by. In New York, there would have been a hundred or more pass by in a quarter hour.
When her lunch had helped take her hunger away, she stepped back out on to the sidewalk to continue her exploration. Jewel quietly continued comparing the two cities when someone tapped her shoulder from behind. Turning, she found Mr. Pendleton standing behind her.
“Good afternoon, Madame,” he said, giving a slight bow. “Might I inquire what brings you out into the town all by yourself?”
“Just taking a look around town, sir,” Jewel said. She was still a little confused by his attentions. Her puzzlement increased when Mr. Pendleton cordially offered her his arm.
“In that case, my dear, would you allow me to escort you? There are parts of town that it’s unwise for men to wander into alone, much less a young lady.”
Jewel gave him a doubtful look.
“Unfortunately there are many men in the west who think that noon is a good time to patronize the saloons. I would hate for you to run into some of the more unfortunate elements of Laramie, especially on your first full day in town.”
“If you insist, sir.” Jewel moved to walk alongside him, but declined to take his arm. Pendleton, for his part, wasn’t the least bit discouraged.
“If you’ll just follow me, then, Miss Wood, I’ll show you some of the wonderful attractions in our fair city.”
Guiding Jewel across the street, he took to the boardwalk and started heading into the heart of town.
“Many of our nicer businesses and entertainments are in this area.” Pendleton said, gesturing around as they walked. “As you can see, the mercantile district is expanding, both in quantity and quality. I’ve invested in several of these stores, myself.”
He paused as they came to a large building, brick with a gaudy classical edifice plastered on the front.
“And this is the flagship branch of the First Mountain Bank, of which my family is the main investor.” Mr. Pendleton sounded quite pleased with himself, and seemed to expect Jewel to be similarly impressed. Jewel wasn’t having much of that. She’d had enough of rich people flaunting their wealth in New York. She wasn’t impressed here, either.
“Could we perhaps view some parts of the town that you don’t own, Mr. Pendleton?” she said, keeping her tone polite.
“Of course, of course,” he chuckled. Without skipping a beat, he continued down the street. They came to another building, this one wooden, but carefully painted. “This, is our new theater. Construction has just finished. We hope that traveling performers will now come to Laramie often, with this excellent theater on hand.”
“I always wanted to go to the theater,” Jewel said. Maybe here in Laramie, she’d actually be able to go. She made a mental note to mention it to James.
“Might I persuade you to let me escort you to a show, then, since it interests you so much?”
“Mr. Pendleton.” Jewel stopped in her tracks, giving the man a suspicious look. “Do you know why I came to Laramie in the first place?”
“To get married to that stuffed-shirt lawyer, of course.” Pendleton said smoothly, not even slightly taken aback by her question. He was also clearly unconcerned about a rude comment aimed at her intended husband.
“Then why are you showing me these attentions, sir?” Jewel said, crossing her arms. She was annoyed, but trying to not be as rude as he had been.
“I’m merely showing you that there are… better options in Laramie.”
“Better options for what? Do you think I’m that easy to win over, Mr. Pendleton? I’m sure I don’t know what kind of a lady you think I am, but I’m not going to just stand with the first man who proves he has the biggest wallet.”
“If you gave that sourpuss a chance, surely you can give me a chance,” Pendleton rested both hands on top of his cane in front of him, giving her a winning smile.
Jewel was about to make a sharp retort when James came striding up. His face was stormy, mouth set in a hard line. Was he angry at her? The sight annoyed Jewel almost as much as Mr. Pendleton’s smirk. The whole situation was maddening.
“Ah, Mr. Harland. Finally decided to pay a little attention to your bride-to-be?”
“Unlike you, I actually work for a living.” James said sourly. “What are you doing with her?”
A few passers-by stopped, gathering at a safe distance to watch the two men talk. They gawked at the scene as it unfolded.
“Giving her a tour of our fair city, since you are evidently inclined to let her discover its treasures on her own,” Pendleton said.
“And what else?” James crossed his arms.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” Pendleton said innocently.
“Don’t you?” Jewel said. Pendleton merely gave a blithe smile, returning both of their stares with perfect good cheer.
James sighed, exasperated.
“If you have finished your walk, Miss Wood, I will escort you back to the hotel.” he said. Jewel didn’t appreciate his tone, but going with James seemed like a better option than staying with Mr. Pendleton. She took his arm, without looking at Mr. Pendleton again.
The pair walked a block in complete silence. It’s always silence. Jewel thought. Does he ever say sentences more than four words long?
“Why were you walking with him?” James asked abruptly. Jewel could hear the tension in him, and his arm was stiff under her hand.
“He found me strolling down the sidewalk and said he didn’t want me to wander into the bad parts of town,” she replied. If he was going to be this grumpy every time she took a walk, there were going to be problems.
James sighed, and seemed to make an eff
ort to calm himself.
“It’s true that there are bad parts of town. But Pendleton’s not a good man. He’s not going to do anything unless he sees a profit in it.” He said, staring resolutely at the road ahead.
“He brought me flowers the day I arrived as a welcome present. And he keeps inviting me for dinner.”
James stopped in his tracks, the angry look returning to his face. “Mark my words, he wants something from you, and you’re a simpleton if you let him get it,” he said.
Jewel stared at him, her temper rising. She had no intention of doing anything with Mr. Pendleton, but she hadn’t come here for James to order her around, either.
“There’s no need to raise your voice at me,” Jewel said, putting her hands on her hips. “I’m not your personal property. I can walk with whomever I choose, whenever I choose. And if you’re so worried about some other man taking your place, then you might consider being present in body and mind where I am.”
James snorted. “I can’t say I care for your choice of company today. I’m wondering about your ability to make sound decisions.”
“I didn’t seek him out. And as I said, if you’re concerned then you need to do your part to make this courtship work.” Jewel returned his agitated stare with her own firm one.
“I don’t doubt it,” James muttered. “That skinflint would do anything if he thought it’d put a hitch in my plans.”
“Oh, so this is about you, is it?” Jewel shook her head in disbelief. “Of all the self-centered notions. Have you thought that maybe he just thinks I’m pretty? I certainly don’t know what you think of me.”
“I think you’re, um,“ James stopped abruptly, pressing his mouth into a tight line.
“What?” Jewel asked, continuing to stare him down. James just shifted uncomfortably, looking down at the dirt road. Sighing loudly, Jewel turned and entered the hotel.
Chapter 12
Why can’t I say it? James thought as he stood alone in front of the hotel. His face was still compressed into a scowl and it slowly changed to bewilderment.
You’re a lawyer. You can stand in front of a judge and jury and talk all the time. Why can’t you tell a woman you think she’s beautiful?, he thought.
He shook his head. It wasn’t as though this was a surprise. Even as a boy, James had never been good at talking to girls. Especially when he thought they were pretty. Well, he’d done it again, and now Jewel was angry with him. Yes, Jewel was angry with him, and Pendleton was trying to interfere. What a big mess he’d created.
James shuddered. Jewel. He wasn’t angry at her. She had no idea who Pendleton was, much less about his unsavory business practices. He had left her on her own since she’d arrived in town, after all. What else could he expect? The Jewel in his letters was so earnest. The very idea of Pendleton trying to use her for some scheme he’d cooked up made James almost shake with anger.
Turning quickly, James began the walk back to his office. He had things to do. If he could figure out a court of law, he could figure out Jewel, too.
He’d made a difficult decision to bring Jewel here. He’d intended this to be a new start for him. His chance to be happy. His chance for someone to see who he really is.
He wanted to open up to her and to create a loving, happy life with her. He hadn’t been able to tell her his desire in his letters, but he had desperately hoped she could read between the lines. Or at least that she was hoping for the same thing. Now that she was here, he was messing it all up. He had to get it together. Fast.
He wouldn’t let Pendleton take away his chance. He would not.
Chapter 13
Early the next morning, there was a knock on Jewel’s door. She opened it, expecting to find the maid bearing her breakfast, but instead she found James.
“Good morning,” she said, eyebrows raised high and eyes open wide in surprise.
“Yes, good morning,” James replied stiffly.
They stood there in awkward silence and Jewel blushed, thinking of how they’d parted yesterday. They hadn’t quite been on amiable terms.
“Would you care to come in?” Jewel stepped aside, and James slipped in through the door. He continued to not speak, just glowering at the vase of flowers on the table.
“It’s rather early, isn’t it?” Jewel said, glancing at the clock. It was just past eight.
“I’m an early riser,” James said.
Jewel waited, thinking he must have something more to say. He didn’t say anything to her, though, and she couldn’t think of anything to say to him, and the silence stretched on and on until Jewel thought her head might explode.
“Would you like to go for a walk?” James said, speaking so abruptly that Jewel jumped.
“Um. Yes, I suppose I could do that,” Jewel said. “If you have the time, of course.”
“I made some time,” he said. His voice was testy, but Jewel smiled. Making time was an improvement. James somewhat stiffly offered his arm, and Jewel took it.
As much as people had been interested in a conflict between Harland and Pendleton, the sight of James Harland walking arm in arm with a woman turned far more heads. Jewel couldn’t help but be amused by the stares that followed them down the street.
“You’re popular, aren’t you?” she said, watching two ladies whisper furiously behind the cover of a parasol.
“Infamous, rather.” James said drily. Jewel looked at him curiously.
“For what?” she asked. When James didn’t reply immediately, she began guessing. “Did you used to be a bandit? Did you get caught in a shootout in the middle of town? Did you speak ill of the parson in public?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Shootouts don’t actually happen in civilized towns,” James said.
Jewel could see that he wasn’t appreciating her sense of humor. It seemed he had some distance to go to develop his own. She noted that she would have to be careful since apparently he took everything literally.
“So you robbed a bank then. Yes, that must be it,” Jewel said. She was going to tease him, whether he liked it or not. Her efforts were rewarded with a grimace.
“I am well known for my mode of conversation.”
“Aaah.” Jewel nodded knowingly.
They walked on in silence. Oddly, Jewel did not find the silence uncomfortable. She was growing used to it.
“What did you want to see? In town, I mean,” James said, clarifying as Jewel gave him a puzzled look. Jewel shrugged.
“All of it, I suppose. If I’m going to live here, I might as well see what’s around.”
“A great deal less than in New York. We’ve a library, a courthouse, and a vast number of degenerates and saloon girls. Oh, and two ice cream parlors.”
“But it’s different. New York might be large, but I was born there. A tiny town is fascinating in comparison,” Jewel said, looking around. To her surprise, James laughed. It was the first time she’d heard him laugh. It suited him. She decided she liked his laugh very much.
“If you think Laramie is small, I ought to take you to a few of the towns nearby. A crossroads with two houses and a saloon is what I call small,” he said, smiling.
“I would like that, actually,” Jewel said, glancing up at him. “I wanted to see some of those mountains you wrote about.”
“They’re over there,” James pointed down the street to where grey peaks loomed in the distance.
“You know what I mean,” Jewel scowled at him, putting her hands on her hips.
“I don’t have time for that, today,” James said. He pulled out his watch as he spoke, checking the time. “We’ve got fifteen minutes.”
Jewel blinked. “Oh. Well, why don’t you show me where your office is, then?”
James nodded. “That I can do. In fact, I’d very much like for you to see it.”
Turning abruptly, James guided her down the dusty streets, toward the center of town. The buildings here were more polished, tall false fronts
giving the district finished air. Grocers and dry-goods stores alike were crowned with a second floor no more than a few feet deep, and Jewel marveled at the sight. In New York, if a building appeared to have a second or third floor, it usually did. The false fronts of western buildings seemed playful, like a set for a giant puppet show. Jewel loved it.
James stopped in front of a storefront near a crossroads in the center of town. It was a brick edifice, and Jewel was slightly disappointed to see that it had a real second floor instead of a false one. A large window facing the boardwalk was painted with the words “Harland & Assoc., Legal Services.” Beyond it, Jewel could see an office set up with some desks and a table. James opened the door for her to step inside.
The desks were neatly arranged and impeccably clean, occupied by busy workers. The large table held stacks of books and ledgers. A stove in the corner held a coffee pot, and a staircase at the back wall led to what Jewel thought must be the second floor.
The law clerks looked up as they entered, their eyes widening in surprise. Jewel smiled to herself. She’d gotten more attention in the last twenty minutes than she had in her whole life.
“The clerks work down here,” James said. “There’s a room in the back for all the records. Our offices are upstairs.”
He walked to the back of the room and up the stairs without so much as motioning for Jewel to follow. She followed him anyway, and he opened the door to a spacious office. There was a large bookshelf and a desk, of finer quality than the ones downstairs. A globe sat on one corner of it, and the desk itself was arranged so the person sitting there had a nice view out the window.
“You can look at that globe as many times as you want,” James said. Jewel snickered and crossed to the window.
“You have a wonderful view from here,” she said. Looking down from James’ desk, one could watch everyone who came and went on the street below.
“It’s not bad,” James agreed, nodding slightly.
While Jewel watched horses trot by, James pulled out his watch again.