by Maggie Ryan
Jewel had to bite her cheek to keep from giggling when Nettie waved her spoon in warning as the man bent over the pot as if he intended to begin eating without benefit of utensils, much less a plate. “Get your face outta my pot. That’s supper.”
He pulled back and spying Jewel, he said, “What’s that you’re eating?” When he stepped towards the table, Jewel picked up the last beignet and dunked it in her coffee before taking a huge bite. She had no intention of giving up a crumb of her treat.
“Hey!”
“Stop your fussin’ and sit down,” Nettie said. “Breakfast ain’t for a half-hour.”
“She’s eating and I’m starving. Waiting for this baby to come has me hungry all the time.”
“I thought it was the mother who gets cravings,” Jewel said, popping the last bite of her breakfast into her mouth.
“I did too but,” he sighed and patted his belly, “I can’t seem to help it.”
“This’ll tide you over till breakfast,” Nettie said as she slid a plate onto the table. It wasn’t beignets but she’d sprinkled the flapjacks with powdered sugar. He gave her a smile that said she was an angel before digging in.
Jewel thanked Nettie for the meal and took her third cup of coffee with her. She met John halfway across the sitting room.
“You look better,” he commented.
“I am better. Breakfast will be ready soon but why don’t you grab a cup of coffee and we can talk about what you discovered last night.” When he hesitated, she said, “I need to know, John.” He nodded and she told him she’d meet him in the small room at the back of the house. The other boarders were beginning to gather in the larger sitting room and she had a distinct feeling they wouldn’t appreciate hearing whatever it was that had John’s smile fading.
“Thank you,” she said when he finished, grateful they had secluded themselves as much as possible. “Every bit of information will help. Go on and eat before there’s nothing left.”
“You’re not joining us for breakfast?”
“I’ve already eaten. I’m going to work out a few things in my head…”
“Excuse me for interrupting, but you have a visitor, Lady… Miss... Jewel.”
“I’m not expecting anyone,” Jewel said, her blood racing as she wondered how Mr. Tompkins had found her.
“He had this,” Walter said, holding up a piece of paper, “but I can tell him you are unavailable…”
“No, I’ll see him,” Jewel said, taking the notice she’d posted the previous day. “I forgot I’d placed an advertisement. Thank you, Mr. Emory.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” John asked as they stood.
“No, go ahead and eat. I’ll interview him and if I need you, I’ll come get you.” She left him in the dining room and saw that Opal and Amy were already seated, giving them a smile and a wave as she moved towards the front parlor.
“Oh, he’s in the kitchen,” Walter said as he took his seat. “Miss Nettie offered him some coffee.”
Nodding, Juliet turned towards the kitchen, formulating questions for the interview. She had no intention of taking anyone or anything at face value again. After last night, she was coming to understand that evil could easily mask itself with a handsome face and pretty manners. Taking a deep breath, she stepped over the threshold and froze.
***
Gabriel watched her from over the rim of his coffee cup. She was standing just inside the doorway, as still as a deer in the forest. Eyes that were the color of a cloudless sky were wide as if startled. She was certainly beautiful. Her hair was the color of ripened wheat with streaks of gold. Soft color stained her cheeks and the sight of her plump, slightly parted lips had him wishing to take a taste. He lowered his cup to the table when he saw her chest heave, her bosom rising under the bodice of her green dress as she finally took a breath. So, the beauty he’d seen in the assayer’s office was his new partner.
Rising, he moved from the table and watched as her eyes dipped to his waist, her breath catching again. Realizing she was staring at his gun belt, he stopped a good three feet from her before speaking, “The gun is for protection. I assure you that you don’t need to be frightened.” Her chin tilted up and holding out his hand, he wondered for a moment if she was going to take it. She gave a little shake of her head and then lifted her hand. He took it, completely engulfing it in his. “Lady Gardner, I presume?”
“Please, call me Jewel.”
“I’m Gabriel,” he said, as he shook her hand wondering at the reason for the informality. From his experience, titled people of any nationality preferred to remind others that they were of higher value—at least in their own minds. Dressed as she was, her hair pinned up with only a few tendrils escaping to frame her face, the unblemished complexion of her skin, her delicate hands—he didn’t think she could lift a pick ax much less swing one into a mountain of rock. Hell, it looked as if a stiff wind could knock her over. He had a very hard time picturing her as a miner. Realizing that he could easily picture her naked and on a soft bed, he released her hand.
“Please, join me for a cup of coffee?” When he smiled and motioned towards the table where his cup sat, her cheeks pinkened even more.
“I see you’ve met Nettie.”
“Yes. I hope you don’t mind,” Gabriel said, giving a smile. “I couldn’t refuse when she offered to feed me.”
His words had Jewel smiling, her perfect little white teeth flashing. “I don’t suppose you could; Nettie has that way with people. Please, don’t let me keep you from eating. You are… um… you look…”
“Like I can eat a horse?” he suggested, liking the way she gave a little giggle before shaking her head.
“Oh no, please, I didn’t mean to offend you. I just meant that I’ve yet to see anyone turn down Nettie’s cooking.”
“Good grief, child, sit down and stop tellin’ them fibs,” Nettie said. “You knows you don’ cotton to my gumbo.”
Gabriel noted the way the cook half-scolded Jewel with a smile on her face as she set down a cup of coffee on the table.
The roll of beautiful blue eyes had his mind returning to that thought of Jewel naked on a bed. Of course, if she rolled them at him, he’d roll her over and add a bit of color to her southern set of cheeks. He almost rolled his own eyes as he told himself to pull himself together.
“I’m sure I would appreciate it if it didn’t have slimy okra in it,” Jewel countered, taking a seat. “I love everything else you’ve made.” Nettie just gave a huff as she returned to the counter where she’d been kneading dough.
Taking his seat again, Gabriel picked up his fork to finish his breakfast.
“You were in the assayer’s office yesterday,” Jewel said as he swallowed his last bite, chasing it with the last of his coffee. At his nod, she continued. “Pardon me if this is rude, but would your employer allow you to take another job?”
“My employer?”
“Well, yes, I wouldn’t want to cause you any trouble if he needs your… um, services for protection.”
“Protection?”
“Yes, you wear a gun and, if you don’t mind me saying, your size would certainly be beneficial as a deterrence.”
***
Sitting back in his chair and crossing his ankles, Gabriel took his time answering. It was clear that she didn’t know who he was. After he’d left the assayer’s, he’d gone to the bank and then the land office. Perhaps if he’d reversed his errands, he’d have run into her there. Instead, Adams had informed him that he’d just missed his new partner.
“What the hell happened to Mendez?”
“I couldn’t tell you,” Adams said. “All I know is that he transferred his share to some man who then transferred it to his lawyer who evidently lost it in a poker game.”
“A poker game? So, this Lady Gardner received it as what? Some sort of gift from the winner?”
“No, she was the winner.”
“What was she doing playing poker?” Gabriel asked.
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that either. All I can say for sure is that your new partner hails from across the ocean and that she’s easy on the eyes. Seems pretty determined to take up mining though. She posted a notice looking for a driver and a wagon to take her to Culpepper Cove. Said she has quite a bit of cargo.”
Gabriel sat forward at the mention of a notice, pulling the one he’d picked up from the floor at the assayer’s out of his pocket. “Did it look like this?”
Adams nodded. “Yes, there’s another on the board out front.”
“You let some woman, a woman who actually owns a stake in a claim but obviously has no idea of what a thousand men would do for that claim, post a notice that could have every low down piece of scum attempting to lure her out of the city? God, man, what were you thinking?” Gabriel strode out of the office, ripped the notice off the board and returned. “Do you have any idea what might have happened to some lone female…”
“She’s not alone,” Adams said quickly. “I mean, she was alone when I talked to her but she said she’s traveling with a group of people. I warned her about the danger but… well, I don’t know many English women, but if they are as stubborn as this one, I’m surprised we won the war.”
Gabriel shook his head, putting both copies into his pocket. “Where is she staying?” After getting the information, he left and walked the streets, not admitting that he was looking for a glimpse of the woman who was foolish enough to wander the streets of San Francisco by herself as if she were strolling down some avenue in London. Returning to his hotel, he had dinner and then went back out. He needed a few drinks and some time to assimilate what he’d learned.
He’d given a double-take when he spotted her again though she wasn’t alone. She and two other women as well as some man had stepped out of The Broken Mast. What in God’s name was she doing? He watched as the group climbed into a carriage. He didn’t know how English women entertained themselves, but he’d never expected to see this one stepping out of a whorehouse. Nettie’s refilling his coffee cup pulled him out of his reverie.
***
“Why do you want to go to Culpepper Cove?” he asked, avoiding answering her question.
“Does it matter why?” she said, frowning just a bit.
“It does if I’m taking you,” Gabriel said, sitting forward again and lifting his cup. “It’s a half-day on horseback…”
“No, that won’t work,” she interrupted.
“You don’t ride?”
“I can ride, but I’m not sure if my companions ride or not. I need a wagon… a big wagon. We have a great deal of trunks to transport and…”
“Don’ be tryin’ to put my behind on no horse,” Nettie said, obviously listening to the conversation as she shaped the dough into loaves.
“I won’t,” Jewel promised, another smile playing on her lips. “Would you care to come over and join us, Nettie? I’d hate for you to strain your ears.”
“I can hear ya jus’ fine from here,” Nettie said, ignoring the sarcasm which caused Gabriel to grin as Jewel just smiled and shook her head.
“How many people are we talking about?” Gabriel asked.
“Five, including myself and trunks and our regular luggage.”
Gabriel shook his head. “What are you trying to do—double the population of the Cove?”
Her eyes widened as she said, “There’s less than five people there? I thought… well, I didn’t expect…”
“I’m teasing. Culpepper is a small town but not that small. The population has increased greatly with all the prospectors though they tend to stay up at the claims for the most part.”
“But they do come into town, right?”
He wondered why she’d asked that question but nodded. “Yes, they do. There’s a mercantile and the bank where gold can be kept until they bring it up here.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Jewel said. “Now, are you interested in the job? We’d like to leave as soon as possible but I won’t be able to give you an exact day until I meet with my… um, until I meet someone.”
“You’re not in some sort of trouble are you?” Her reaction was interesting as she hesitated and then shook her head.
“Of course not. I just have an obligation to attend to before I leave.” She looked away and then back to him. “Can you stay in town for a few days or is your boss expecting you back at where… back at wherever you work?”
“I’ll be in town for a few days,” Gabriel answered. He was intrigued with this woman. He realized he could imagine her playing poker as it was obvious she was holding her cards close to her chest.
“That’s wonderful. If you are willing to take this job, I’d be willing to hire you and I promise to pay you fairly.”
“I’d be interested but I can’t make any promises until I understand what you are transporting.” He decided to press a bit. “If you have as much as you say, I might need to arrange for another wagon and hire a driver…”
“John can drive,” she said. “He was a driver in New Orleans.”
“He drove cargo?”
“Um, I’m not sure. Does that make a difference?”
“It does if you are hauling heavy equipment. Driving in these mountains isn’t like driving on some street. Are you hauling mining equipment?”
Her eyes slipped away again. “Why would you ask that?”
Gabriel shrugged. “Why else would you be placing notices up where prospectors would find them? You haven’t explained why you and your friends want to go to a town that very few people know about. Culpepper Cove is a long way from New Orleans—and even further away from England.”
“Look, my reason is my business, but I will tell you that my cargo has nothing to do with prospecting. If you aren’t interested, please don’t let me waste any more of your time.” She stood, adding, “If you know of anyone else who is willing to work without prying into personal matters, I’d appreciate it if you’d send them my way. Good day, Mr....”
He allowed her to get halfway to the door before saying, “Vasquez.” His words had her stopping abruptly before she turned around, her lips forming a pretty little ‘O’.
***
Surely she’d misunderstood. “Did you say Mr. Vasquez?”
“Yes, my name is Gabriel Emmanuel Vasquez of the Corazón de Oro.”
The foreign words rolled off his tongue easily and though she didn’t understand them, she recognized them. “I-I’ve heard that name…”
“I should hope so considering you own part of it. It means Heart of Gold—I’m your partner.”
“My partner? You mean you are… you own the claim?”
“Half of it.”
“Why in the hell did you let me think you were some… some driver!” She stomped to the table, gripping the top of the chair where she’d been seated. “What is this? Some sort of test? Were you afraid that I was some sort of… of idiot who doesn’t know her head from her arse? Were you planning on what—driving me to some… some gully and shooting me and stealing my claim?”
She took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest, her anger growing when his only reaction to her accusations was to sit back and arch one eyebrow before he spoke.
“Are you done?”
“What? Done? No, I’m not done! I’ve just begun. What is it with the men in this city? You all act like gentlemen, conversing with women using polite words and good manners but only think they are nothing more than… than someone to use. Let me tell you something, Mr. Vasquez, I don’t suffer bastards who lie…”
“I never lied…”
“You did! You introduced yourself as… you didn’t tell me who you really were.”
“I introduced myself to the man who opened the door. Though, to be honest, I believe he was more interested in returning to his breakfast than…”
“You didn’t introduce yourself to me!” she repeated. “You pretended to be looking for a job when—when you knew who I was and exactly why I’m going to Culpepper
Cove. Did Tompkins send you? Is that bastard…”
“That’s enough,” Gabriel said, his tone not rising but his words cutting her off. “If you’ll sit down and stop screaming about someone I’ve never met, we can discuss this like adults.”
“Don’t you dare order me…”
“It’s not an order, it was a request. I’m a patient man, Lady Gardner, but I do have my limits. Now, either sit and calm down or…”
“Or what? You’ll turn me over your knees and spank me? You just try and…” The moment she realized what she said, she stopped yelling but the room seemed to be echoing with her words.
“I suppose that would be better than shooting you,” he said. “They don’t put men in jail for spanking a woman. But, as enticing as that is, I was going to say that I’d leave and come back at a time when you aren’t acting like a brat.”
“I’m not!”
“You are.”
“Jewel? What’s going on? Are you all right?”
Groaning, she turned to see her friends standing in the doorway. From Opal’s expression, they’d been there at least a few minutes. “I’m fine. We were just having a discussion…”
“Is that what you young’uns call a spat these days?” Nettie asked. “I was afraid my bread was gonna fall with all that screechin’.”
“I was just leaving.”
“Wait! You can’t just leave…” Jewel watched, her mouth hanging open as Gabriel moved away from the table and went to the back door. When he turned, she waited for him to finally admit he had been wrong. Instead, he smiled… not at her; his incredible smile was directed at Nettie. “Thank you for a delicious breakfast, Miss Nettie. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Without another word, he opened the door and stepped out.
“He… he can’t…”
“It appears he can,” John said, taking the vacated chair. “Want to fill us in on what the hell happened in here?”
“To tell you the truth, I really don’t know,” Jewel said, her eyes still glued to the door. “I-I won’t know until… if… he comes back.”
“Well, if I had a partner who looked like that, I’d be running after him,” Opal said. “Of course, don’t be surprised if you catch him and he reddens your arse. God, why on earth did you accuse him of being a murderer!”