Mistletoe Courtship

by Janet Tronstad

  Shorty nodded as he stepped away.

  Lester was walking toward them. “Virginia! What a pleasant surprise!”

  “We need to talk,” Virginia said as she walked over and sat at the table. Lester might not be the gentleman she had thought he was, but she would treat him like one as she kindly explained why she could never marry him. She refused to let the emotions she had for Colter keep growing when there was another man who seemed to feel she belonged to him instead.

  Lester might be willing to deceive someone else, but she wasn’t. She would have her talk with him and then go next door and try to find something for the children for supper. This, she thought to herself, is how civilized people handled their lives. Orderly and with concern for others.

  Colter had one of Virginia’s aprons tied around his waist. He had just sliced some onion and put it in the cast-iron skillet. He’d added some wood to the fire a few minutes ago and when the blaze got higher he would put some bacon in with the onion. He’d sliced some potatoes and had them ready to add after the bacon.

  The cat by the cupboard meowed. Colter had checked her bandages when he first got in and they were in place. Petey had left a note on the table saying he and the children would be back soon. Patricia wanted to check on the mail from the last stage of the day.

  Colter told himself he had put the apron on so he could wrap it around his hands when he moved the skillet. He didn’t want to injure the skin on the hand he had scalded. But, the truth was, the apron reminded him of Virginia.

  He was getting ready to put the bacon in the pan when someone knocked loudly on the back door.

  “Come,” Shorty said when Colter opened up. “Hurry.”

  Just then, a woman screamed. It sounded like it came from Lester’s place.

  “Let’s go,” Colter said as he reached back and grabbed the gun holster he’d left hanging from a peg on the wall. It was dark outside, but both men moved swiftly to the open back door of Lester’s saloon.

  Shorty stood back so Colter could enter first. The hall to the main room was dark, but there was one lantern lit by the bar. A couple of the regulars were staring at something in the corner of the room. The fact that they weren’t moving made Colter worried enough to draw his gun.

  He slid around the corner and his heart stopped. Lester was standing there with a knife in one hand and an arm wrapped around Virginia’s neck.

  “Let her go,” Colter said as he stepped farther into the room. Please, Lord, he prayed.

  Lester laughed. “And let you shoot me? No, she stays with me.”

  “You’re frightening her.” Colter kept his voice even. Desperate men were easily spooked.

  “Well, that’s her own fault,” Lester said in disgust. “Coming here and accusing me of setting that fire. Saying she was going to tell you all about it. That you would handle it. I know what that means. And I’m no match for your gun.”

  “I meant he’d talk to the marshal in Billings,” Virginia said. Colter was glad her voice still had a little starch in it.

  “And then she played me for a complete fool by saying you’d given up your guns.”

  Colter knew there was enough light for the other man to see what was pointing right at him. “Let her go, Lester. That’s the only way for you now.”

  The other man didn’t move.

  “You’ve heard of me.” Colter knew the longer he talked the less chance there was of violence. At least, as long as he kept his voice steady. “All the stories are true.”

  “I heard you’d been beat in some shooting contest over by the Rockies,” Lester said. “Heard you weren’t as fast as you used to be.”

  “Let Virginia step outside and you won’t have to worry about how fast I am.”

  “It’s not my fault anyway. I thought everyone was gone. I wasn’t going to hurt anyone. I just didn’t want to lose all my business when you got back.”

  “You did this over money?”

  “You could have burned up that piano,” Virginia scolded the man. Colter noticed the color in her face was a little better. Her hair was falling down, but her eyes were fierce. She’d managed to move a few inches away from Lester and was using her hand to reach into the pocket of her dress.

  Don’t do it, Virginia. He didn’t know what she had planned, but anything was too dangerous.

  “I did it for us.” Lester turned to Virginia, his voice pleading for understanding. “If business stayed good, I thought I could sell the place when the railroad came in. It was for our future. With those friends of your father, I could have made something of myself in politics.”

  Colter didn’t like Lester talking to Virginia. “If it’s money you want, we can talk.”

  “Huh?”

  Colter nodded. He’d gotten the man’s attention back. Now all he had to do was get Virginia away from him before she used whatever it was she’d grabbed from her pocket. He could see her fist had closed over something even if it was still hidden. He wondered if she had one of those little guns women carried. He hoped not. So many things could go wrong with them.

  He spoke clear so Lester would hear. “I have three hundred dollars over at my place. How much would it take for you to let Virginia go?”

  “Three hundred?”

  Colter nodded. “Let Virginia go and we can go count it.”

  Lester snorted.

  Colter saw Virginia take a deep breath and he knew the talking was over.

  He steadied his gun as he saw her hand move. Lester must have felt her turn and he looked down just in time to have seen Virginia throw something. Then Lester sneezed. Virginia slipped away from him and dropped to the floor.

  “Hands up.” Colter stepped closer.

  He saw Virginia crawl under one of the tables.

  “Drop the knife,” Colter added, in case the other man didn’t believe it was over.

  Lester sneezed again and the knife fell to the floor.

  “Anybody have some rope to tie him up?” Colter asked without taking his eyes off Lester. He heard footsteps so he knew the men that had been standing at the bar were getting what they needed.

  “What’s going to happen?” Virginia said as she pulled herself up off the floor. She’d managed to put several tables between her and Lester.

  Colter took a deep breath. He’d grown up thinking men settled their own differences with a gun. Those days were over for him though. “We’ll hold him in the back room at the stage office until the marshal can get here. There’s no windows and a good lock on the door.”

  “We’ll get him there,” Shorty promised and a few of the other men nodded as they came back with rope. “I just saw Petey outside and he says—Well, he’ll tell you. He’s next door at your place.”

  Colter walked over to Virginia as the men started tying up Lester.

  “Are you all right?” He brushed back the hair from her face. That’s when he felt the grains on her skin. He looked closer. “Pepper?”

  She nodded. “And some ginger. I think I still have the packets of salt and cinnamon.”

  “Well, if that doesn’t beat all.” Colter smiled as he brushed the spices off her face. “I’m sorry. I guess this territory is still a little rough.”

  “There’s greed everywhere.”

  Once Colter finished getting rid of the spices, he didn’t have any reason to keep on touching her except that—he pulled her into his arms. “I was so afraid something would happen to you.”

  “I know,” she said and he felt her head move against his chest as she nodded.

  Then there was a man clearing his throat.

  Shorty spoke up. “Petey said it was kind of urgent—I know we’ve had our own problem going. But Patricia—”

  Colter nodded. Virginia had already turned to the door.

  Dear Lord, what now? Virginia prayed as she walked over to Colter’s place. At least kerosene lamps were lit in the place, which meant someone was home. She supposed Patricia was upset because there hadn’t been a letter from her mother. Sh
e heard Colter’s footsteps coming behind her and it was a great comfort to know they were both there to help with the tears.

  Before Virginia opened the door to the saloon, she heard the dog barking excitedly.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked as she stepped inside. She didn’t need anyone to answer to know that something was happening. One of Patricia’s trunks was halfway down the stairs, with its lid locked tight and Danny standing over it with a scowl on his face.

  “Patricia’s moving out,” Danny said.

  By then Colter was in the room, too.

  “She can’t be that upset.” Virginia turned to Colter. His face looked as worried as she felt. “Can she?”

  Virginia looked up and saw Patricia come out of her bedroom. She was dressed in the clothes she’d worn when she arrived. She had a big smile on her face. “I got my letter.”

  “From your mother?” Virginia asked in astonishment.

  Patricia nodded as she bounced down the stairs. “I need to get everything packed and down to the stage. She’s not at the Golden Spur anymore, but she’s not with that man either. It will be just her and me again. Like it’s supposed to be.”

  “It can’t be,” Virginia said as she turned to Colter.

  “I won’t let her go,” Colter vowed as he walked over and crouched down by Patricia. “Now, tell me everything.”

  Patricia started to talk, sounding more excited than Virginia could ever remember hearing her. Not even when she was playing the bells. It seemed that her mother had indeed written a letter, telling Patricia that she had parted company with Rusty the miner.

  “He completely ran out of gold,” Patricia told Colter. “So my mother isn’t going to stay with him anymore. But she sent me her address. So I can bring her trunks to her. She’s already paid the money to the stagecoach place in San Francisco.”

  That’s when Patricia turned to Virginia. The girl’s face was beaming and she ran over to Virginia with her arms wide. “I’m going to live in San Francisco. I’m sure my mother will take me to the opera.”

  Virginia opened her arms and held the girl close. Then she looked over at Colter. He seemed as stunned as she was. Virginia bowed her head and kissed the top of Patricia’s head.

  Then Patricia drew back and looked up. “The stage leaves tomorrow so I won’t get to play the bells.”

  “I’ll miss you,” Virginia said as she drew the girl into another hug.

  Meanwhile, Colter had stood up again.

  “I’ll get supper ready,” he said and then walked into the workroom.

  Virginia wondered how anyone could think of food even if the children needed to eat.

  Colter braced himself against the cupboard. He’d never felt so powerless. He hadn’t thought Rose would ever send for Patricia. Not after the things she’d said. But Rose was the girl’s mother. He knew he didn’t have any legal rights to keep the girl here. He wasn’t prepared to let her go either though.

  How could he be losing all the people he loved? The next thing he knew Danny would remember a grandfather that he wanted to live with. Colter knew he had pieced his family together from various places. That’s just the way it had happened. But it never occurred to him it could be taken apart so easily.

  The cat meowed and Colter remembered supper. He’d pulled the skillet to the back of the cookstove so the onions were not burned. He added the cut-up bacon to the onions and put it back on the front of the stove.

  Petey came in the door. “I’ve been up in her room trying to get the second trunk ready to go.”

  “She really got a letter?” Colter asked as he reached back for Virginia’s apron.

  Petey nodded. “The clerk at the office said something about prepayment made from San Francisco. He had some official form that he’d gotten on the same stage that Patricia’s letter had come.”

  Colter nodded. He must not know anything about families. It wasn’t surprising given his childhood, but he was still astonished. “Did it say what stage she’s to go on?”

  “Tomorrow morning.”

  “I’ll miss her.”

  The other man came over and put his hand on Colter’s shoulder. “You know, I’m going to miss her, too. And from what she’s told me of that mother of hers, I’m spitting mad that the woman has the nerve to ask her daughter to come live with her again. After leaving her there in that saloon all by herself. Doesn’t she know what kind of things can happen to a little girl in a situation like that?”

  Colter nodded. “She knows.”

  The cruel fact was that love could be very selfish. It might be true that, in her own way, Patricia’s mother loved her. But it wasn’t a love that ever considered what was best for the other person. Colter knew how easy it must be to fall into the trap of loving like that. All he wanted to do was to take Patricia and Virginia and lock them in their rooms upstairs and never let them go.

  The door opened again and Danny and the dog came inside.

  “They’re just crying out there,” the boy said in disgust.

  Colter turned to the boy and gave him a fierce hug. “Tell me you’re not leaving me, too.”

  “Me?” Danny looked alarmed as he squirmed his way out of the hug. “Where would I go?”

  “Nowhere if I have my say.” Colter turned around to tend the skillet. It was time to add the potatoes. “Go ahead and put some plates on the table in the other room.”

  “I hope they’re done crying,” Danny said as he walked over to the cupboard.

  “They were both crying?” Colter asked.

  “Yeah. Girls,” the boy said in disgust as he pulled down some plates.

  Colter looked over at Petey. “Is that good?”

  The older man shrugged. “I don’t know for sure. But at least she must be sad at the thought of leaving everyone here.”

  “She’ll miss the dog,” Danny said as he balanced the plates and opened the door.

  Colter heard the sizzle coming from the stove. If he had his way, she’d also miss the cooking.

  Chapter Twelve

  When Virginia woke the next morning, it took her a few minutes to remember why she held a handkerchief in her hand. She’d gone to sleep with tears in her eyes. Everyone had been gloomy last night as they ate supper together, except for Patricia, who had been feverish with excitement.

  Before they went to sleep, Virginia had given every gentle reason she could think of to make the girl change her mind about taking the stagecoach to San Francisco. Colter had assured everyone that if Patricia was set on going, he would go with her and make sure she made it to her mother’s place.

  His declaration had made Virginia cry even more.

  She did not want to send Patricia off with memories of tears though so she dressed and went downstairs to make breakfast for everyone. The morning light was just coming into the main room as she made her way down the stairs. The trunk that had been sitting on the stairs last night wasn’t there any longer. Neither was the one that had been dragged to the door.

  The smell of coffee was coming from the kitchen and before she walked across the room, Colter opened that door and came inside. He looked as exhausted as she felt.

  “I thought I’d help get breakfast,” she said.

  He nodded. “I have batter made for pancakes. I just haven’t—”

  He sent her a look so bleak her heart broke.

  “She’ll be fine,” Virginia whispered as she walked toward him. “She’s bright. And tough.”

  Virginia opened her arms and he stepped into them.

  “The stagecoach had someone come and take the trunks,” Colter said as he wrapped his arms around her, too. “Patricia was up. I don’t think she slept at all last night.”

  “Is she in her room?”

  “I think so.”

  Virginia’s heart slowed. She’d never grieved like this before, with someone to hold her who knew the same anguish. She could feel the strength in Colter’s arms as he held her, but it was the tenderness in his heart that comforted h
er the most. They stood wrapped together for a few minutes and then Virginia stepped back.

  “I wanted to play some music for her before she leaves,” Virginia said as she looked over at the piano.

  “Oh.” She stopped then looked up at Colter. “I have a bell missing.”

  Virginia walked over to make sure she was right. She looked all around, but there were only nine bells instead of ten. “The one that’s missing is the one Patricia was going to play in the Christmas Eve service tonight.”

  “Well, I think we need to go upstairs and talk to her,” Colter said.

  “Maybe she took it upstairs so she could practice.”

  When Virginia and Colter knocked on the girl’s door, there was no answer. They looked at each other and Virginia slowly opened the door.

  “Patricia,” she called softly but she already suspected what she would find. “She’s not here.”

  Colter followed her into the bedroom. Everything was gone. Patricia’s old hat. Even the rope she’d worn cinched around her middle for a belt. The closet was empty except for the yellow dress Elizabeth had made.

  “She’s probably down at the stage office,” Colter said as he turned to go.

  Virginia followed him down the stairs. She was surprised that Patricia would try to leave without saying goodbye. Unless she was ashamed for stealing the bell. Virginia knew the girl would never enjoy the bell either since she’d stolen it. Which was such a shame with her ear for music.

  “Wait a minute,” Virginia said as she went back upstairs.

  When she came back down, she was carrying ten small pieces of linen and some cord to tie them together. She went to the piano and quickly wrapped the remaining bells in the linen. Then she tied them together with the cord.

  “You’re not going to…” Colter asked when she walked back to him.

  Virginia nodded. Music had separated her from those she loved when she was a child. She didn’t want it to come between her and Patricia now. “Let’s go.”

  The morning air was cold and gray clouds promised snow later today. There were a few people on the street, but it did not take long to arrive at the stage office. Virginia looked in the window and she saw Patricia sitting on a bench inside with a small bag nearby.