Del followed him and behind the house to the logs. He looked at the back of the house and was surprised to see Jericho looking out her window. She waved, and he did nod at her. It was at that point, Del realized that Bridgette might not be the only one with surprises up his sleeve. Seems Sterling thought they should be together.
If only. Del grabbed an ax and soon had a nice pile of logs for the fireplace and wood stove. After an hour of work, he and Sterling took off their jackets as it was warming up quickly.
Sterling looked at the stack they’d made. “Thanks, Del. That should keep us warm. How about a good cup of coffee before you start out?”
“Sounds good.” He followed Sterling inside and nearly ran into Jericho in the kitchen.
She smiled at Sterling. “I was getting Bridgette her breakfast. Your wife and baby are doing very well.”
“They are, aren’t they.” Sterling grinned and rushed off to see Bridgette and Charlotte.
Del smiled. He was happy for the couple and the little baby. He glanced at Jericho and wondered about her life. When Jericho was born, she’d been just like Charlotte. Pure and innocent.
Was it her fault that she’d gone down such a sinful path? She’d told him or tried to tell him how her family fell apart after her mother died. Bridgette had filled him in and told him how her mother died, then later her father and she’d wound up in a brothel at thirteen.
Del wished none of that had ever happened, but it had. He glanced at Bridgette’s room and prayed for baby Charlotte. That her life would be perfect and filled with only goodness.
Jericho sat at the kitchen table. “It’s a miraculous thing, the birth of a baby.”
“Yes, it is.” He drank his coffee and set the cup on the table.
“I think back and realize that I was loved when I was born. My mother and father took care of me until my mother got sick. Then everything changed.” She looked at him. “Everything.”
Del nodded. He wasn’t sure what she wanted from him. It wasn’t his fault her life had taken a wrong turn. He had no magic wand to change it all back. What did she want from him?
“I’m sorry things didn’t work out for us.” She smiled and then shrugged. “If I could undo my past, I would.” She paused. “Bridgette told me about your past. It doesn’t bother me. I see how you are a changed man.”
Del looked down. He’d not told her. “I should have told you. Jericho, you’re a lovely woman. I’m sure you’ll make some man a good wife. It just won’t be me.”
She stared at him with hope in her eyes. “I know.”
He wanted to yell at her to stop hoping. Stop believing he would change his mind. He wasn’t going to. “I have to go. The snow has melted enough. Tell Sterling, thanks.” He left her. Tried to get the look of hope in her eyes out of his mind. He was through with her. Finished.
After hitching up the horses, he left the Merritt ranch and went to town. All the way, he thought of Jericho and the hope in her voice and eyes. What was wrong with her? He’d told her there was no chance between them.
He still liked her and had some feelings for her. But he couldn’t imagine her as his wife. Not now. Not ever. Yet, she’d forgiven him for his past.
Del was almost to the livery when Peter Drake stopped him. “I was hoping you could start work on my establishment today.”
“Today? I’m not sure what I could do. I don’t have the wood or even the plans.”
Peter pointed to the wagon. “Mind if I hop on and show you where it is and explain what I want? That way, you could get started. The sooner, the better.”
Del wanted to tell the man, no. Then again, Del needed the money. If he could get an advance, he could order the wood and start early. He set the brake. “Sure, take me to the sight.”
Peter was in the wagon and taking over before Del knew what happened. “Over there behind the Adler bank, and then turn right and go to the end of the street.”
Del drove the horses up the street. “How much farther?”
“Go on up until the street ends. The sheriff said that was where the city stopped. I can build it anywhere up here.” Peter jumped from the wagon. “I was thinking right here. My saloon will stand up here where everyone in town can see it.”
Seeing the church just to the left and down maybe a couple hundred yards, Del got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. “I’m sure the mayor would have thought it would be more below the town along where the Wild Joker Saloon is.”
Drake took in a deep breath and puffed out his chest. “Riffraff. That’s not what I’m building or the clientele that I want. No, up here is where it should go.”
Del shrugged. “Show me what you want. I’ll have to draw up the plans first.”
Drake smiled at him. The kind of smile that a sly fox might give when asked into the hen house. He pulled out a paper from his pocket. “I’ve written up what I want and my ideas.” He handed it to Del.
Taking the paper, Del felt as if he’d taken in a rattlesnake. “I’ll look them over and get back with you. I need to get to my shop.”
Peter Drake walked away and then paced out his building. “Yes, sir. It will be a fine place that all in the town can see.” He jumped up into the wagon and grinned.
Del nodded and reined the horses back to town. “I’ll let you know in a few days.”
“Don’t be too long. Others can build it for me.”
Del didn’t know of any, but Peter Drake probably did have friends all over who could build his saloon. Regardless, Del wasn’t going to let him pressure him into anything. He had enough money to pay bills and live on right now.
“Just don’t take your time on this, Del. You’ll find I’m a man of my word.” Peter sat back as if he were king of Shirleyville.
The first thing Del was going to do was talk to the mayor and Judge Taggart about this monstrosity going up over the town. He stopped at the hotel and let Peter off.
Del went to the livery and paid for the use of the wagon for the extra day. Tired and hungry, he walked to the café for dinner.
Gloria met him at the door. “Mr. Selmer have a seat. The special is meatloaf and you’re guaranteed to love it.” She smiled at him.
Del sat at the table she led him to and looked at the menu. Meatloaf sounded good. “I’ll have the special.”
She winked at him. “Coming right up. There just might be a bit of peach cobbler for dessert.” And she was gone.
Del stared after her and wondered what that was about. It didn’t take long, and he noticed the sheriff and his wife dining at a table near the back. The sheriff waved.
Del nodded. Levi had warned him about Gloria. But Del had to admit it did feel good to be fussed over by the woman.
Gloria brought the food and sat in the seat across from him. “I think it’s wonderful how well your business is doing.”
He nodded. “Thanks.”
“The church is going to have a social next Saturday. Are you going?”
Del chewed carefully. He looked at her, swallowed his food, and nodded. “Sounds like it would be fun.”
She stood and grinned at him. “I’ll save a dance for you. I better get those folks who just walked in. See you Saturday.”
He waved. Well, Levi had been right. Gloria was on the lookout for a husband. She was pretty and seemed like she’d be fun. His thoughts roamed to Jericho, and he wondered if she’d be there.
It might be good if Jericho showed up and saw him dancing with Gloria. A good way for her to see that whatever they had together was finished.
Del thought about asking Levi about Drake’s building but thought better of it when he saw the man kiss his wife’s hand. They didn’t need company or business.
Finished with dinner, Del walked outside into the cold, dark night. The sky was clear, and the bright moon shone silver light onto the remaining snow. He looked up at the church on the hill and thought how perfect the scene was. Bright and shining the white of the church stood out against the night sky.
/> Hope. He could feel it coming from the church. Then he looked to the left and remembered Peter’s plans for his saloon. The very opposite of hope. A dark hole that would suck the money and life out of many of Shirleyville’s citizens.
Tomorrow, he’d talk to the mayor and the sheriff. Somehow, they needed to stop Peter and persuade him to build somewhere else.
***
Jericho frowned. “But I don’t want to go to a church social. You know what the people will say.”
Bridgette put her hands to her hips. “I would go there with you if I could. I want you to go. I haven’t given up on Del. I still see something in his eyes for you.”
“Pity. That’s what it’s called.” Jericho faced her mentor, sometimes tormentor. “I ought to know, I’ve seen it enough in my lifetime.”
Waving her off, Bridgette pulled a dress from her wardrobe. “I think this one will look beautiful on you. It will show off your features, the light blue really compliments your coloring. You will have fun. James and Li are going. If they can, you can. In fact, I would like you to go just so Li will have a friend there.”
When Bridgette put it to her that way, Jericho lost the last of her resolve. “All right. But I’m not guaranteeing I’ll stay until the end.”
“All right. You can ride with James and Li.” She raised her head. “It’s all right. I already spoke to them.”
Charlotte started crying.
Bridgette grinned. “I hear my daughter calling. I love being a mother. Who’d have thought.” And she whirled herself into her bedroom to take care of the infant.
Jericho laughed. Nothing would slow Bridgette down. No doubt, what would happen was Bridgette whirling away and her little tornadoes following in her footsteps. She was happy for her friend.
A social. Not that she’d never been to any, just that the kind she had gone to was quite different than what she would encounter at the church. If nothing else, she figured she could talk to Pastor Bret.
Bridgette had said that he had asked about her. He was a nice man. Jericho still thought there was some wild unfinished business left in him. For that reason, she would not get close to him. Not at all.
There was the chance she’d see Del. For that, she’d go. Bridgette almost had her believing that anything was possible. Not that she had a big hope that Del would change his mind and marry her. But as Li had said, spring in Montana was full of hope.
Jericho stopped at the mirror and looked at herself. “Who am I fooling.” She went to change. For Li, Jericho would go. She felt protective of the young woman. They’d spent some time together, and Li had explained more about the Bible to Jericho.
Jericho was beginning to get the idea that in God’s eyes, she was forgiven completely. It didn’t make sense because she couldn’t undo what she’d done or been in the past, but according to His Word, if she believed, she was free and clean.
Joy shot through her heart. Jericho wondered if that was what Li had meant when she said it was like a song in her heart. Putting a hand to her chest, Jericho determined she would keep that feeling. Regardless of what Del or anyone else did at the social.
A knock on her door startled Jericho. She put on her hat and opened it to find James and Li. All smiles, they welcomed her to travel with them.
Li took her hand. “I am so happy you are going with us.”
“Thank you for asking me. I’m not sure what I’ll find when I walk in those doors, but I am determined to have a good time.”
“We are too. Thank you for coming. I feel we will be looked down on. So sad in the house of God that people will try to force us out.”
Jericho squeezed Li’s hand. “Don’t you worry. I’ll be right beside you.”
Li tapped her husband’s shoulder. “This is our first social together.”
James glanced back at them. “I’ll be bringing the two most beautiful women in Solomon’s Valley. I’ll probably have to fight half the men in town off you two.”
Jericho laughed. “I feel better already.”
The weather had warmed, and the sun was still shining brightly. Sterling had made arrangements at the hotel for them all to spend the night in town. He’d confessed to Jericho that he had to threaten the clerk to let Li and James have a room. But the man had finally relented.
Too soon, James drove the buggy to the church. He helped them both out and walked them to the door.
Jericho hesitated. “You two go in. I don’t think you need my troubles added to yours. I’ll go inside in a minute.”
James nodded and took his wife proudly into the church.
Jericho heard Bret’s loud voice welcome them. The pastor would watch out for the young couple, she was sure of that.
She waited for a few minutes. Watched as people from the town were coming to the church. Such a joyous time. Stirring up her courage, she walked inside the church.
It was decorated with flowers. The tables along the wall had cookies and sandwiches. Another table had a bowl of lemonade. The fiddlers were on a raised platform. The atmosphere was one of fun and friendship.
“I’m so glad you came. I look for you every Sunday morning.” Pastor Bret took her hand and practically pulled her the rest of the way inside.
“Thank you, Pastor. One of these days I’ll show up.”
“The angels will sing when you do. All of heaven awaits you.”
She blushed as his words touched her soul. She believed him. Jericho walked inside the room and picked up a cookie.
Gloria came up to her. “Those are some of my best sugar cookies. I made them this afternoon.”
Chewing on a bite of sprinkled cookie, Jericho nodded. “Very good. You are an excellent cook, Gloria.”
“Thank you.” She stared at Jericho for a moment and then walked toward the door and looked as if she was waiting for someone.
Jericho went to the back part of the church and watched the people. Most were happy and laughing. A few were like her and headed for the walls. Jericho remembered times where she would have been one of the ladies in the center of the room. Not anymore. She wasn’t working the room. She wasn’t peddling herself.
“Jericho?”
Chills went down her spine. She turned to a voice that sounded familiar but from long ago. Jericho thought she might faint as the room closed in around her. Trembling, she stared at Peter Drake. When had he come to her town, and what was he doing here?
He extended a hand to her. “You look surprised to see me, but I assure you, I am just as surprised to see you. What a grand coincidence. I’m opening another establishment. I have a job for you if you want it.”
She pushed his hand away. “I’m out of the saloon business. All of it.”
He stood back and cocked his head. “I don’t believe it. Not you.”
Jericho walked away.
Peter grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. “No one walks away from Peter Drake. Ever. It seems you forget you still owe me.”
She glared at him. “Get your hands off me. Don’t you ever touch me or talk to me again.” Jericho twisted out of his grasp and walked to the other side of the room.
Levi came up to her. “That man hurt you?”
She shook her head. “No, but you watch him, Sheriff. He’s no good and will ruin whatever he touches.” Jericho looked at Levi. “He isn’t opening a saloon in Shirleyville, is he?”
Looking uncomfortable, Levi nodded. “Not in Shirleyville, but on the outskirts of town.”
Jericho shook her head. “He’s no good, Sheriff. Watch him and never trust him or turn your back on him.”
“Thanks for the warning. Would you mind passing that warning onto the Mayor.”
“With pleasure. I hate to see Drake ruin this town.”
“Me, too.” He picked up a couple of cookies. “I better give one to Eve.”
Jericho watched him find his wife. They were so happy. She kept a wary eye on Drake, but he seemed content to talk to the businessmen of the town. No doubt filling their heads with the
promise of all the money he was going to make them.
Then Del entered the church. She saw him immediately. And he saw her. With a slight nod, he strode to the gathering of men around Drake.
Jericho’s heart dropped. Del was just the kind of man that Drake would go after. Peter would get Del to build that monstrosity and then leave him with the bills. He’d ruin Del. She’d seen Drake do it before.
The fiddlers started up, and couples ran to the center of the church.
A few people pointed and muttered at James and Li, but Jericho hadn’t seen anyone mistreat them.
Jericho sat down. She didn’t expect anyone to ask her to dance and wasn’t sure she would accept if they did.
Most of the women had been chosen, and Jericho had just relaxed when a man she didn’t know came over to her and asked her to dance.
She looked at his eyes, and they gave her the impression of honesty. Feeling a nudge and knowing that Bridgette would be telling her to go ahead, Jericho nodded. She took the man’s hand and let him lead her to the middle.
Del had Gloria in his arms and glared at her.
Drake had Francesca in his and came to stand at the other side of her.
The fiddlers went into a fast dance, and soon, the room was alive with men twirling their partners and laughter.
Her partner was a miner. A foreman and very polite. His name was Adam, and she had a good time with him. Then all too soon, the dance was over.
She started back for the wall when Drake took hold of her hand. “This is my dance.”
Chapter 15
Del agreed to dance with Gloria again. He’d enjoyed the time with her. Then he heard her. Jericho. She’d whispered no quietly under her breath, but he’d heard it. Del looked, and Peter Drake had hold of her arm.
Jericho clearly didn’t want to dance with the man.
Del excused himself from Gloria and strode to the warring couple. “I don’t think she wants to dance with you, Drake.”
Drake shoved him. “Doesn’t concern you, carpenter.”
Del grabbed his arm. “Let her go.”
Peter glared at him and whispered. “She’s a whore. Not worth the trouble of a broken nose.”
Jericho (Bridgette's Bridal Registry Book 1) Page 11