by Zina Abbott
Delphinia watched Bennett stare at her, his face blank except for a raised eyebrow which she now recognized as his characteristic facial expression. “I hope I didn’t move too fast for you, Mr. Nighy.”
“You didn’t. But you are a caution, Miss Brown.”
Delphinia inhaled. She next released her breath slowly in an effort to tamp down her annoyance. Didn’t the man realize what was best for him if he wanted to make a sale? “If you follow my directions, it will show off your furniture to its best advantage. As for the pine and less expensive pieces…” Delphinia waved her hand dismissively. “Find a place towards the back to stack them neatly. Mrs. Shumaker won’t be interested in those. I’ll be here no later than ten-thirty. Please have everything ready by then.”
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CHAPTER 10
~o0o~
Bennett refused to allow his jaw to drop open at the audacity of this woman he had met but minutes before. She had swooped into his furniture store, ordered him to have his showroom cleaned up by a certain time, and dictated to him how to arrange his furniture pieces. It wasn’t that he found anything objectionable in how she said to set up the groupings. It was the issue it was his store, and he had been muddling along just fine in spite of the dust and disorganization without her telling him what to do. Who did miss big-money socialite from the big eastern city she refused to name think she was? He watched her stately steps, enhanced by the bounce of the flounce of her jacket over her bustle, as she made her way to his door. Against his better judgment, he admired her every move. He waited until she reached for the doorknob before he spoke. “See you this evening, Miss Brown.”
Bennett bit back a smirk. She stopped mid-stride and stiffened her back. Next she spun on the toe of her boot to face him. He felt her disapproval radiate from her like heat from a firestorm.
“Mr. Nighy, I meant ten-thirty in the morning. I do not entertain anyone for any reason ten-thirty at night.”
Bennett choked back a laugh. “I understand, Miss Brown. However, because I get tired of my own cooking, on Mondays and Thursdays when business at the Howard Boarding House tends to be slow, I have a standing appointment to take my evening meals with them. I will see you at supper.”
Bennett smiled and folded his arms as the woman before him tipped her head in acknowledgement before, without another word, she turned and left. He sauntered to his front window to watch her as she walked down the boardwalk towards the boarding house.
Yes, this was one Thursday meal prepared by Clara Howard he definitely did not intend to miss. Although he knew there was no second chance to make a good first impression, he intended to do as much damage control as possible. No matter how much needed to be done to prepare for the Shumaker’s visit the next morning—not to mention the appearance of miss high-and-mighty—he would make time to get that haircut and beard trim he missed the previous week, take his semi-weekly bath a day early, and make sure his best suitcoat and matching trousers were brushed. Why he intended to make this effort for the most annoying female that had ever crossed his path he had no idea. It was not like he intended to do so to catch her interest.
Oh, no.
Besides not wanting to leave her with the impression he was nothing more than some dumb ox, Bennett knew Sarah Brown—or whoever she was—was hiding something. Generally, young single women like her only had one goal on their minds—marriage. He was doing fine by himself and had no need to encourage someone looking for a husband, so that was not the reason why he wished to know more about her.
She was scheming. She was up to something. Women don’t come to a backwater mining town like Jubilee Springs unless they had a specific purpose for doing so. He intended to find out what that purpose was. He only wanted her to become comfortable enough with him so she would open up and reveal to him why she was in Jubilee Springs telling him how to run his store.
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CHAPTER 11
~o0o~
Delphinia delayed as long as she could before going down and joining the diners at Mrs. Howard’s table. She would have liked to skip the meal entirely rather than face more questions about why she was in Jubilee Springs. People in town were extremely friendly and helpful, but they were also downright nosey. However, the sweet roll for lunch she had bought at DeMitri’s Bakery was long gone, and her stomach growling told her she needed to brave the curious and retire to the dining table for a good meal.
The first person who caught her eye as she descended the stairs was Bennett Nighy. Small wonder. He had seated himself near the foot of the table on the side where he had a clear view of her approach. She noticed he looked different than when she had seen him in his shop. Cleaner. Better groomed. More professionally dressed. She wondered if Clara Howard required diners to dress for supper. She didn’t recall it from the previous night, but she had been rather exhausted and not overly observant. A glance at the other regulars confirmed that other than clean hands and faces, formal attire at the supper table was not expected.
Delphinia started towards a vacant chair and looked up in surprise when she realized someone had pulled it out for her and had stayed to help her push it back in. It was Mr. Nighy. She glanced up and offered him a smile of thanks before she turned her attention to her napkin as she smoothed it in her lap. She looked up and realized Bennett Nighy sat directly across from her. Not only that, but he seemed to watch every move she made. She felt like a mouse being hovered over by a cat preparing to pounce.
A late arrival barged through the front door. “Sorry, Mrs. Howard. I got tied up with someone from the mine who wanted to talk to me. I’ll clean up and be back right quick.”
“Hurry. I’m putting food on the table now.”
Delphinia watched the others as they scooped or forked food on their plates. As accustomed as she was to having servants to dish food onto her plate, the entire experience felt foreign to her. As she passed the platter containing the roast beef, she marveled at how heavy it felt in her hands. Then again, when she married a miner, there would be no maid or butler to help serve. She needed to grow accustomed to serving her own food.
After several minutes of conversation, one of the boarders offered an observation. “You two sound like you’re from the same part of the world. You’re from Albany, New York, aren’t you, Ben?”
When Bennett confirmed he came from Albany, Delphinia felt her body seize up. She forced herself to breathe slowly, willing herself to relax. Why hadn’t she noticed earlier Bennett’s accent which marked him as being from the same state she came from, even though Albany and New York were miles apart? Surely they would have never crossed paths. He couldn’t possibly know who she was.
“You from Albany, too, Miss Brown?”
“Not too far from there.” Delphinia felt Bennett’s eyes on her. Surely he hadn’t placed her as coming from New York City by her manner of speech. She deflected more than answered questions about where she had come from and why she was there. They would know as much as they needed to know soon enough, but there were people she needed to speak with first. One she would meet and talk with the following evening—Lizett Millard. Once things were worked out with her, she would have a better sense of whether she should continue to be known as Sarah Brown, or if she should revert to her other alias, Delia Brownlee.
As for where she had come from, the less known about that, the safer she remained. Who knew how long it would take her father's men to find her?
The other person she felt a personal obligation to speak with was Aaron Brinks. She had never been in a position to write back to him to tell him why she never responded to his most recent letter, the one she burned rather than have her parents find. Since it was a work night, and she knew from conversation that the late diner also worked at the mine, she had decided during dinner that this was the best night to walk out to the company housing neighborhood on the other side of the river from the sc
hool she had located after talking to his parents at the mercantile that morning. Perhaps he and his new wife might not appreciate meeting her at this point in time, but she felt he deserved an explanation. Besides, the town was rife with gossip, so she was sure people knew there was a potential bride named Delia Brownlee who wrote to two of the miners. If her meeting with Mrs. Millard went poorly, and people learned she was the Delia Brownlee expected the previous July, it would only make matters worse if Aaron Brinks was the last to learn of it.
Delphinia glanced out the window as she ate her second bite of apple cobbler. She could tell it wouldn’t be long until it was dark outside. She set her fork on her plate and turned to Clara. “This was a lovely meal, Mrs. Howard, but I just realized I have one more errand to run tonight. It would be best if I see to it before it grows completely dark. If you don’t mind, I’ll excuse myself.”
Before Delphinia could push her chair back, she found Bennett behind her helping her scoot her chair out. She turned to thank him, but stopped when he placed a hand on her arm.
“Miss Brown, it not only is almost dark outside, but it gets completely dark quickly due to the mountains surrounding this valley. Are you sure your errand can’t wait until tomorrow?”
Delphinia shook her head. “No. It cannot be done during regular business hours.” She turned to her hostess. “Mrs. Howard, do you have a lantern I may borrow? I will be happy to reimburse you for the kerosene and matches.”
Behind her she heard Bennett sigh. “I have a lantern, Miss Brown. Let’s get your coat and other paraphernalia on. I’ll take you and see you back safely.”
“I would not want to inconvenience you with my person or my paraphernalia, Mr. Nighy. I’m sure if the Howards…”
“It’s best you go with Ben, Miss Brown. It’s usually pretty quiet in town on a weeknight as far as the miners go, but you never know. Then again, we still have problems with coyotes and bobcats coming down by the river. With this cold weather, some may be tempted to see what they can find in town.”
Delphinia felt the agitation building in her. She knew from her careful questioning at the mercantile she would need to cross the bridge over the river. The thought of coming across a wild animal prompted her to gulp. However, she did not want anyone, especially Bennett Nighy, know where she planned to go. “I see no reason to inconvenience Mr. Nighy. Most wild animals will avoid humans, won’t they? I’m sure I can wave a lantern to let them know of my presence as well as Mr. Nighy can.”
“Do you carry a weapon, Miss Brown?”
Delphinia jerked her head back to face Bennett. “No, I don’t. Do you?”
“Always. I always have a pistol close.” Bennett patted his coat pocket.
Delphinia blinked. She had never seen any sign of a weapon on Bennett. However, she was not yet ready to concede defeat. “And do you know how to use it?”
Bennett stared at the woman before him. Why did she insist on being so stubborn about accepting help? Yes, she was hiding something.
Yes, he knew how to use a pistol. He may not have been in the top half of his classes at West Point, but on the firing range he had more than held his own.
Bennett kept his voice soft. “I would be foolish to carry a pistol if I didn’t know how to use it. Now, go up and change out of your boots with the high heels that you can trip over in the dark, put on some flat-soled boots, and I will take you where you want to go. If you don’t take too long, Miss Brown, that is. I have to have my store ready for a visitor by ten-thirty in the morning.”
Aware the two of them were creating a spectacle in front of the other diners, without another word, Delphinia assumed her most stately pose and walked up the stair to change boots and don her coat, hat and gloves as quickly as she could. She came back down to find Bennett waiting for her, a great coat over his suit coat, derby on his head, and a lit lantern in his hand. She took his free arm and allowed him steady her as she descended the stairs.
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CHAPTER 12
~o0o~
Once they reached the boardwalk, without a word, Delphinia pointed to the right. At the corner, she pointed to the right again.
“Where are we going?”
Bennett’s question startled Delphinia. “Beyond the school.” She sensed Bennett turn to study her as they continued walking.
“To the mining company housing?”
“Yes.”
“Which one?”
“I don’t know. But since I understand only about half of the dwellings are being lived in, I’m sure someone at the first house can tell me.”
Beside her, Bennett sighed with frustration. “I know most of the families that live there. They’ve bought furniture from me. Tell me who you wish to visit, and I’ll take you there.”
Silence.
Delphinia didn’t want to tell him who she wished to visit.
She didn’t want to deal with questions regarding why.
“Do you promise to not tell anyone in town with whom I am visiting tonight? Do you promise to not ask me why I wish to visit this person or what my visit is about? Will you assure me that afterwards you will not ask me what was said?”
Silence.
She knew he wanted to know.
But there was too much at risk and she didn’t dare trust anyone to know.
Finally, a sigh of resignation.
“I promise, Miss Brown. If you promise to not take too long, I will see you to the door and wait outside until you are ready to return to your room. Who do you wish to visit?”
“The Brinks. The son, not the parents who own the store.”
Delphinia felt herself relax with a sense of relief as Bennett Nighy proved true to his word. He led her to the door of one of the houses and held her hand to steady her as she stepped up on the porch. He kept enough light on her to not leave her in the dark, but stepped back to give her privacy. As soon as the door opened, he faded into the shadows even further.
Delphinia studied the man standing before her who was backlit by gas lights. But staring at him did not accomplish her purpose. She cleared her throat. “Mr. Brinks? My name is Miss Sarah Brown. Is your wife here with you? If so, I ask for a few minutes to speak with the both of you.”
Before Aaron Brinks said a word, the woman Delphinia recognized as his wife, Andrea, stepped to his side.
Andrea gently placed her hand on her husband’s arm and offered him a smile. “I met her at the store, Aaron. She’s staying with Mr. and Mrs. Howard. It’s all right to talk with her.”
Aaron stepped aside and waved Delphinia in. “Welcome, Miss Brown. I’m afraid I wasn’t expecting company so late, especially on a weeknight.”
“My apologies, Mr. Brinks, but I felt it might be important.”
After they all sat—the Brinks on a settee in the living room and Delphinia on a chair they brought out from the kitchen—Delphinia launched into the purpose of her visit. “Mr. Brinks, I felt it only right to contact you. However, before I say any more, I would like a promise from both of you to not repeat anything I tell you tonight for at least two days, or until you hear something about it from others. I know I’m asking a lot, but I include your parents among those I wish you to not speak to for the time being. I met both of them at the mercantile today. They are lovely people. I enjoyed visiting with them very much, but I did notice they seem to both be rather…chatty.”
Delphinia watched as husband and wife looked at each other with knowing smiles.
Aaron turned back to her with a grin. “If you are saying my folks tend to gossip, I’m afraid I would be forced to agree with you. Believe it or not, my father is worse than my mother. But never tell him I said so, or he’d never get over it.” The man grew more serious. “I don’t know what this is about, Miss Brown, but I believe we can give you our word we will keep your confidence for at least two days.”
“Thank you. Mr. Brinks, you and I have communicated before tonight. Sarah Brown is how I
have introduced myself to the residents of Jubilee Springs, but it’s an alias. I corresponded with you through the Colorado Bridal Agency using the name Delia Brownlee.”
Delphinia studied the couple’s reaction. She quickly continued her explanation. “I knew both the miners and the potential brides were writing to more than one person, so I understand that you decided on Mrs. Brinks over me. However, I feel I owe you an explanation as to why I didn’t respond to your last letter even though I received money and train tickets with it. You see…” Delphinia stopped and took a deep breath, reaching for the words to explain without saying too much. “I was corresponding without the knowledge and consent of my family. Although I am of age, I knew they had certain…expectations…for me and they would not have approved. The reason I considered the solution of marriage to someone living in the wilds of the West was to escape the situation I found myself in at home. I discontinued my correspondence with Mr. Spencer because I grew suspicious of his motives…”
Once again, husband and wife gave each other knowing looks. Aaron smile at her. “You dodged a bullet by getting rid of him, Miss Brown. Or Brownlee. He turned out to be quite a scoundrel and ended up getting himself killed.”
“So I have learned. Unfortunately, it was his final letter that my father found that led to him discovering what I was about. I managed to continue my correspondence with you. However, to keep your name from being discovered, I ended up having to burn the last letter I received from you before I read it. I was rendered indisposed for several months after that, and was unable to respond. I just wanted you to know I did not mean to end our correspondence so abruptly without an explanation.”
Delphinia straightened in her chair and smiled. “I did come to Jubilee Springs on the chance you were still unattached and might still consider the match. However, I also knew it was possible you found another, as is what has happened. I am truly happy for the both of you.”