by Linda Bridey
“You don’t have to be sorry. We’re all clumsy sometimes. Are you hurt?” Will asked.
“No. I’m fine. I’m used to it. I guess you’ll have to get used to it, too,” she said.
Will smiled. “I guess so.”
His casual attitude about it made her feel more at ease, but she was still a little embarrassed. She carefully went to the kitchen and began gathering silverware and dishes. Just as cautiously, Zoe carried them back to the dining room and set the extra table. She began dreading dinner, and she prayed that she didn’t do anything stupid.
*****
Mercifully, Zoe made it to the dinner table without any major catastrophes occurring. She sat in between Will and his sister-in-law, Sadie. They had a little chance to talk and Zoe found Sadie amusing and kind. Zoe enjoyed hearing the children’s chatter, something she’d missed on her journey to Dawson.
“Ma, I have to pee,” Chris said.
Sadie said, “Christopher! That is not something you announce at the table. Just say ‘excuse me’ and go on.”
“Yes, ma’am. May I please be excused?” he asked.
“I just said you could,” Sadie responded.
“No, you said I should just say it and go, but at home I have to ask to be excused. So which is it?” Chris asked.
Sadie gave him a stern look and said, “Go ahead and leave the table.”
Chris got up from his chair. “Ok. I’ll be back,” he said and took off at a run.
“No running!” Sadie called after him. She looked over at Tucker who smiled. “Don’t you encourage him,” she said.
Tucker said, “Who? Me? I wouldn’t do that.”
“Yes, you would. It’s no wonder he has bad manners,” she said.
Pricilla chuckled. “Now, don’t be too hard on him, dear. He’s just precocious.”
John said, “He acts like Katie. Headstrong.”
Sadie said, “I know. Pa says she’s not getting any better, either.”
Tucker nudged her with an elbow. “I know someone else like that. You both take after your old man. He’s stubborn and you inherited it.”
His wife couldn’t hide her grin. “I know. We fought something fierce when I got older.”
“See? He comes by it naturally,” Tucker said. “Now, Ethan takes after me.”
Zoe smiled as she listened to the good-natured bickering between the couple. She caught Will’s eye and he smiled, too.
Chris came back into the dining room and said, “Look what the cat drug in.”
Raven followed him into the room and everyone greeted him, except for Zoe. His appearance startled her and she inhaled the sip of water she’d just taken. Immediately a coughing fit seized her and she put her napkin over her mouth. She’d never seen an Indian in person before.
Will patted her on the back. “Are you ok?”
She nodded as she coughed a few more times. “Down the wrong pipe,” she said in a slightly hoarse voice.
Raven had paused to make sure she was all right. When she spoke, he continued on his way to the empty seat by Jamie. On his way by Pricilla, he stopped to kiss her cheek.
“Hello, Auntie,” he said.
She patted his shoulder and said, “Hello, Raven, dear. You’re a little late.”
“I’m sorry about that. It couldn’t be helped,” he said as he sat down by Luke.
“It’s all right. I’m sure it was important.”
Will said, “Raven, this is Zoe Fontaine. Zoe, this is Raven.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Raven,” Zoe got out before she coughed a little again.
Raven nodded. “Likewise, Zoe. Three redheads at the table. You don’t see that every day,” he said with a wink at Rosie.
The girl laughed and said, “You don’t see a Lakota brave at the table every day, either.”
Luke said, “Not every day, but often enough.”
Raven grinned. “I think someone is jealous, Rosie.”
“Why would I be jealous?” Luke said.
“I did not say any names,” Raven said. “Why do you assume I am talking about you?”
“Who else would be jealous?”
“Perhaps John is jealous,” Raven said with another wink at Rosie who giggled.
John snorted. “I don’t think you’ll be running off with my wife, Raven. No, I’m not jealous.”
“Luke does not like it because Auntie always sets a plate at the table for me, but not for him,” Raven said.
Zoe watched this with fascination. Luke was a big man, but Raven was the same size. Luke did not look happy and she hoped that they would not fight.
“From what I understand, you have a plate sat at a lot of tables,” Luke said.
Raven’s grin broadened as he put food on his plate. “Yes. I am very popular. It is a curse. Not enough time to spread myself around.” He pointedly turned away from Luke and said to Zoe, “Do not mind his bad manners. I hope you had a good trip.”
“Y-yes. It was nice. Long, but nice. There were people, and I met them,” she said.
“Did you?” Raven asked with a wry twist of his lips at her odd statement. “Were they nice? I hope so?”
“Yes. They were nice people,” Zoe said and tried to think of something more intelligent to say. “I didn’t meet anyone who was mean.” Oh Good Lord! Will is going to think I’m an idiot.
“I’m glad of that,” Raven said. He decided to take pity on her and talk to someone else. Obviously she wasn’t used to being around Lakota people, and it would take her a little while to adjust to him. He didn’t mind. He found it amusing.
Will said, “Zoe plays piano and banjo.”
His mother, Betty, said, “That’s wonderful. Maybe you’ll play for us sometime.”
Luke said, “I’d love to hear you play banjo. Maybe if you’re good enough, Joe will induct you into our band.”
Pricilla made a tsking sound. “Luke, I don’t think Zoe is the type of girl who plays in bars.”
Luke’s eyes widened in disbelief that she would say this, but then again, he shouldn’t be surprised. “Ma, watch it.”
Jamie laughed. “Luke, it’s ok. I’m so used to it that it doesn’t bother me anymore.”
Zoe looked between the two women and felt caught in the middle of them. She had no idea what to say.
“I really didn’t mean anything,” Pricilla said.
“Of course you didn’t, Pricilla,” Jamie said. “Tucker, will you please pass me the potatoes? I want to have plenty in my stomach, so that when I go sing later at the bar, I have lots of energy.”
Zoe colored in embarrassment that Pricilla had offended Jamie by comparing the two of them. Obviously the two women didn’t get along.
Luke closed his eyes in frustration. Pricilla said things like that every so often and it created tension. It wasn’t nearly as much as it used to be, however.
Raven jumped into the conversation. “Auntie, there is nothing wrong with women coming to the bar. I keep telling you to come and dance with me, but you will not. It hurts my feelings.”
Pricilla gave him a sharp look. “I can’t come there.”
“Why? If you don’t know where it is, I will take you.” He winked at her.
“I haven’t danced in ages,” Pricilla said.
Raven raised an eyebrow at her. “A little birdie told me that you used to be quite the dancer.”
“Well, yes, I wasn’t too bad, I suppose,” Pricilla said with a touch of pride in her voice.
Raven grinned and said, “I’ll bet with a couple of shots I could get you dancing again.”
“Raven!” she admonished him but laughed. “You’re terrible.”
“Yes, and that is why you love me,” Raven said.
Jamie snorted. “That didn’t work for me, Raven.”
“That is because you are not tall, dark, and handsome.”
There was a groan from others at the table.
“See, Luke? I told you someone was jealous,” Raven said.
W
ill laughed. “You have one of the biggest egos I’ve ever seen, Raven.”
“My ego is not as big as Joe’s,” Raven joked. “I’ll bet he will be wearing a new suit tonight.”
Jamie laughed. “Most likely. I’ve seen his closet and I don’t know how Gina keeps up with repairs for him.”
Luke said, “He wears them to do everything. That’s the problem. He goes home during the day and gets training a horse or something in one and the next thing you know, he’s got a rip or whatever. He cracks me up.”
“I always said that he’s vain,” Pricilla said.
“Yeah, but, Ma, don’t forget all the good he’s done for the town,” Luke said.
Pricilla glanced at Luke and said, “Yes. He has. I would have never thought it of Joe, but he has certainly matured and become a good man and yes, a good mayor.”
Though he sometimes got put out with Raven, Luke was grateful that he had diffused what could have become a bad situation. He looked at the brave and Raven winked back at him.
Pricilla sniffed a little and said, “Jamie, I really did not mean anything about you. I just meant that Zoe may not be quite as outgoing as you, that’s all.”
Jamie met Pricilla’s gaze and smiled a little. “Ok. Thank you for clearing that up.”
“You’re welcome, dear,” the older woman said.
Zoe spoke up. “It’s true. I don’t think I could play in front of so many people.”
Will said, “We could break you in gently. It’s really not a bad place to go. Jake, one of the owners, runs a fairly clean place. There are no dancing girls or anything like that.”
“Thank goodness for that,” Betty said. “We don’t need such things around here.”
Edward said, “Yes, but with all of you entertaining people, it keeps a lot of the ruffians out of town. I’m sure you’re glad for that, Raven, with you being a deputy and all.”
Raven nodded. “Yes. It makes things somewhat easier.”
Will chuckled. “Did you leave anything interesting in Mitch’s desk drawers lately?”
“The other day I put a chipmunk in one, but today I just left a note,” Raven said.
The group laughed.
“Raven plays pranks on our sheriff. He likes to put small animals and other stuff in Mitch’s desk drawers,” Will explained to Zoe.
“Oh. I’ll bet he doesn’t like to open them then,” Zoe said with a smile at Raven.
He smiled back. “He cringes when he needs to open one. It’s very funny to watch.”
“I’ll bet,” she replied.
Pricilla rose to get dessert and Rosie said, “I’ll help you, Grandma.”
“Well, aren’t you a dear? C’mon, then,” Pricilla said with a smile for the pretty girl.
When the pies were brought in, there were murmurs of appreciation all around. Dessert was quickly dispatched and Pricilla had also made coffee to accompany the sweet treat.
Zoe said, “Mrs. Samuels, that was a lovely meal. You’re a wonderful cook.”
Pricilla was pleased by the praise. “Why, thank you, Zoe. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Did everyone get enough to eat?”
Words of assent came from around the table.
Pricilla looked at the pie dish that wasn’t empty and then at Luke. “Luke, surely you can finish that last piece of pie.”
Luke smiled. “Ok. You twisted my arm, Ma.”
Jamie passed it over with a smile. She enjoyed seeing her husband eat. “Here, Hercules. Enjoy.”
Luke grinned at her use of her pet name for him.
Zoe laughed. “I have to say that you do resemble Hercules.”
Luke chuckled. “My cousin, Marcus, started that. Jamie was a mail-order-bride and when we first started exchanging letters, I told her that Marcus said I looked like Hercules. The nickname stuck and she’s called me that ever since.”
Jamie took his hand and he squeezed it while they smiled at each other. Zoe watched them and then looked at Will. He smiled at her and Zoe hoped that they would be like Jamie and Luke one day.
With dinner over, the company began dispersing. It was a Monday, so Raven didn’t have to work at the Watering Hole since Jake closed it at eight. He planned to go home and see if there would be a card game that night. Luke and Jamie wanted to get home and get the children off to bed on time. There were baths to get and such. Buddy didn’t like going to bed and it was a chore to get him to sleep sometimes.
Will said, “Zoe, would you like to take a walk?”
“Yes, I’d love that,” she said. “I’ll get my coat. It’s gotten chilly.”
She went for her coat, and Betty said, “Will, she’s a lovely girl.”
“Yeah, I think you have a keeper, Will,” Edward agreed.
“Me, too,” Will said. He was so happy that his parents approved of Zoe.
Betty kissed his cheek and Edward clapped him on the shoulder as they left.
When Zoe came back, Will helped her with her coat.
“Zoe, why don’t you come over to our house tomorrow so we can visit?” Sadie said as Tucker helped her with her coat. “Bring your banjo,’ she said with a mischievous smile
“All right,” Zoe said with a smile back.
“Come whenever you want,” Sadie told her.
“I look forward to it,” Zoe said.
Chapter Four
Will and Zoe walked along the street and he pointed various things out to her. He wanted her to be able to get around the town on her own when he was at work.
“I’m sorry about Pricilla,” Will said looking over at her. “She can rub people the wrong way a lot of the time. She and Jamie don’t always see eye to eye on things.”
“I noticed that,” Zoe said. “Why don’t they get along?”
Will said, “When Jamie first came here, she was a pretty wild woman. She liked playing poker, drinking, and singing in the bar. Pricilla didn’t think she was good enough for Luke, but Jamie proved her wrong. Once she and Luke were married, Jamie settled down a lot. More so, once they started having kids. She still sings at the Water Hole and plays some poker, but nothing like she used to do.”
“Oh, I see,” Zoe said. “I wondered what was wrong between them.”
“Pricilla has very high ideals of what is proper and what isn’t,” Will said.
“I’m glad she approves of me. It’ll make it easier since I’m staying there.”
“Yeah. I’m glad you know how to ride. As you can see, if you want to go anywhere out of town, you’ll need one. You can rent a horse from the livery stable. Stew, the fella that runs it, will pick you out a nice one,” Will informed her.
“Oh, good. I don’t have the money to buy a horse at the moment,” Zoe said.
Will took her hand and said, “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of that later on.”
Zoe smiled and thought how nice it was to hold his hand as they continued to walk along. They didn’t lack for things to talk about and by the time he walked her back home, Zoe had a good idea of the layout of the town. He’d shown her where Sadie and Tucker lived, the post office, and Bradbury’s General Store.
As they came back to the Samuels’ house, Will said, “I had a really nice time tonight.”
“Me, too,” Zoe said.
Will looked into her pretty gray eyes and smiled. “I get off work around four-thirty. Would you like to go to Wolfe Point for dinner? They have some nice restaurants over there.”
“That sounds like fun,” Zoe agreed.
“Ok. I’ll come for you about five then,” Will said.
“I’ll be ready,” Zoe said.
“I’m really glad you’re here,” Will said. He kissed her cheek. “Goodnight, Zoe.”
Zoe blushed. His kiss had felt very nice. “Goodnight, Will.”
*****
When Zoe arrived at Sadie’s house around ten the next morning, Sadie was excited.
“Oh, good. You brought you’re banjo. I don’t have to send you home for it,” she said with a grin.
Zoe
laughed. “What are you up to?”
Sadie led her out to where she’d already hitched up her horse to their light buggy. The children were in school and Sadie was happy to have company that day. A lot of her friends worked during the day, and with the children being in school, she was often bored. Now that Zoe was there, she hoped they would become good friends even though Zoe was much younger than she was.
“I want to surprise my Uncle Seth with your banjo playing. He plays fiddle with Luke, Jamie, and the gang. We’ll have to go hear them on Thursday night. Don’t worry about what Aunt Pricilla says. We just let it go in one ear and out the other,” Sadie told her as they started out.
“That sounds like fun,” Zoe said. “Although, I’ve never been to a saloon. My mother doesn’t approve of that kind of thing.”
Sadie said, “Well, no offense, but your mother isn’t here. Besides, you’re old enough to decide about going or not. We’ll go once and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to go again.”
“That sounds reasonable.”
*****
Dean Samuels was crossing the drive when he heard buggy wheels coming down the lane. He stopped and shielded his eyes from the bright sun so he could see who it was. He recognized Sadie’s buggy and waved.
She drove up to the house and jumped down from the buggy. “Hi, Pa!”
Dean hugged his daughter and said, “You’re a sight for sore eyes. How are you, sweetheart?”
“I’m good, Pa. How about yourself?” She smiled as she looked up into his blue eyes.
“Fine. Who’s your friend?”
“Zoe Fontaine, this is my father, Dean Samuels.”
Dean extended his hand to the pretty redhead. “Nice to meet you, Zoe.”
“She’s Will’s girl,” Sadie explained.
“Oh, yeah. That’s right. You told me she was comin’ yesterday,” Dean said with a smile.
Zoe smiled at being described as “Will’s girl”. It made her feel good.
Dean nodded towards the case that Zoe carried. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Yes. I play banjo.”
“Oh, boy. Go get Seth, Sadie. I think he’s in the second barn.”
“Ok Pa,” Sadie said and trotted towards the barn.
“Come with me Zoe,” Dean said and led her to their house. Going into the kitchen, Dean called, “Tessa? Where are you?”