He turned his attention to the water damage she was talking about, inspecting it on the window and the floor. He nodded.
“I can fix this for you. I’ll have to order a new window to be shipped in and build a new frame, but it can be done. What else is there?”
He looked around the room. It was sparse for the most part and he saw nothing else that could be repaired.
“The roof is leaking in several places. It will need repairing. But you’ll have to go outside and climb up there to look at it. You can’t really see it without going in the attic and it’s not good for people to go up there. It’s dangerous.”
He raised his eyebrows. She grinned.
“I only know that because Miss Berry told me. She said on the days it rains, we get out the buckets.”
“That won’t do. I’ll take a look at it before I leave.”
“That would be wonderful, Gabe, thank you.”
They left the room together, crossing to the other door. Before he went inside, he looked behind him at the teacher’s desk. It looked rickety, like it was about to fall to pieces. He doubted any of the drawers still worked on their sliders. The top of the desk was scratched up and had deep grooves in it. Some of the grooves were frayed and splintered wood was sticking up. He shuddered to think of Claire getting a piece of wood lodged in her hand just from picking up tablets or chalk.
“That’s your desk?”
Claire looked over her shoulder at the hulking piece of wood and nodded. “It is.”
“They couldn’t find a better desk for you?”
Claire shrugged. “They don’t have a lot of money for the school. And this is a new venture, splitting the children off from each other. It’s the only reason I got the job.”
“I see.”
“It’s really all right, though, Gabe. I can deal with it until something better comes along.”
“I repair furniture,” Gabe said. “I’ll talk to the mayor about fixing this desk. At least I can sand it to make it smooth on top. You’re going to get splinters from that thing.” He frowned, thinking the school could have tried a little harder to get a newer, nicer desk for Claire.
“I’m sure they’d like that very much,” Claire smiled up at him. He shook his head, coming close enough to her to keep his voice low.
“It’s not them I want to like it. It’s not them I’m aiming to please.”
Claire swallowed, looking up to drown in his dark eyes. “That’s… that’s sweet, Gabe. Thank you.”
They stood quietly looking at each other for another moment. He was so close to her, she could feel the warmth coming from his body. The sound of movement from the other room, the scraping of chair legs on the floor, made both of them turn to the door.
They looked back at each other. Gabe cleared his throat and stepped back. “What needs repairing in here? It looks like an empty room to me.”
She nodded, glancing around her. “I thought we would check and see if anything needs fixing in here. As I said, I’m fairly new here. I know Miss Berry could have shown you much more than I can. But she seemed quite insistent that I show you around.” She looked up at him, using a soft, low voice. “Tell me, Gabe. Did you say something about me to her? Did you say you wanted to see me?”
He licked his lips. “I… I didn’t. I said I wanted to help repair anything that needed it.”
He could see she was trying not to laugh. “What’s funny?” he asked.
She grinned, stretching her lips wide and making her eyes crinkle with delight. “I guess I’m not hiding it very well. I don’t know why I should but… well, I guess she knew I… wanted to see you this morning. Or that it would make me happy to do so.”
He closed the distance between them again, standing directly in front of her and looking down, dropping his eyes to her smooth, red lips. “I’m happy seeing me makes you happy, Claire. It makes me happy to see you, too.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ROE’S ELECTRIC REEL
ROE’S ELECTRIC REEL
By the time Gabe got to the lumber mill that day, Mark was already working on one of his other projects. He saw Gabe coming up the road and stopped to come out and wave.
“Hey, cousin,” Gabe said as soon as he was within earshot. “Sorry I’m late. Went to the schoolhouse first.”
Mark raised his eyebrows, coming toward his horse and reaching up to grab the bit. “Hello, boy, hello,” he said to the horse. He raised his eyes up to Gabe and watched as he dismounted. “You went to the schoolhouse? Why?”
“I wanted to see if they needed any repairs done.”
Mark grinned. “Adam and I have always taken care of the schoolhouse. There couldn’t have been much.”
“Not much, no.”
“So you didn’t need to go there,” Mark concluded, letting Gabe take the reins he’d pulled down. Gabe just grinned at him.
“I figure I did need to go there. And I’m glad I did. I got to accomplish what I set out to do.”
Mark grinned. “You went there to see that new school teacher? The one that lives at the hotel with you.”
Gabe nodded. “Yeah, you know me, cousin. I’m not shy.”
Mark laughed out loud. “No, my friend, shy has never been one of your traits. You’re practically beating them off with a stick usually, aren’t you?”
Gabe gave him a rye look. “It’s a curse, not a blessing. Too many women. Not enough choices. Isn’t that ironic.”
Mark continued laughing, walking into the huge building with Gabe. “So how is the lovely Miss Underwood?”
“She’s doing well. Looking very nice in her schoolhouse dress. Her working attire.” Gabe chuckled. “I like the way she walks.”
Mark raised one eyebrow. “Oh? Well, that’s nice, I guess. I’ve always been partial to Molly’s eyes. She’s got the most beautiful eyes.”
They reached the section of the building where Mark worked on various carpentry projects. He had left a piece of sandpaper, wrapped around a handle for easier sanding, sitting on top of an old side table. Gabe bent down to look at the small table. The edges had been carved to look like dolphins swimming in the ocean. “This is beautiful, Mark. Where did it come from?”
“It’s one of Dr. Campbell’s. I think he got it when he traveled to New York.”
Gabe stood back up and looked at Mark. “Now there’s a place I’d like to go sometime.”
“New York?”
“Yeah. It seems like a lot of fun and adventure. I don’t think I’d want to stay though. Probably too much fun and adventure.”
Again, both men laughed.
“Grab you a sander or something and let’s get to work.”
Gabe did as he was told but stood by the small table and watched Mark work on it for a moment. Finally, Mark looked up at him. “You can work on any project you want, Gabe. This table is small. I can do it myself.” He stopped when he saw the distance in Gabe’s eyes. “You hear me, man? You listenin’?”
Gabe blinked at him. “I just thought of something, Mark and I’d love it if you could help me.”
“What is it you want me to do, cousin?” Mark stood up, rubbing his hands on his jeans.
“I want to build a new desk for Claire.”
Mark smiled. “That sounds like a very nice idea. But why don’t you just buy one?”
Gabe shook his head, shrugging. “I really think a handmade one – by me, one made by me, would mean more to her. Don’t you think so?”
Mark nodded. “Yeah, I think you’re probably right about that. Okay, let’s sit down and see what we need for that.”
After an entire hour of drafting plans for a new desk, Gabe decided he was going to the store to buy the nails and other supplies he would need. “I’ve taken enough of the supplies from the lumber mill working on these projects. This is my own project. I’ll buy the wood and the nails and anything that is needed to build a good, sturdy desk for her.”
“You want it to be pretty, too, right?” Mark asked with a smi
le.
Gabe laughed. “I suppose.”
He left the mill shortly after, telling Mark he would be back with the supplies by the end of the day. Mark said he would section off a portion of the building for Gabe to work in.
He made it as far as the end of the cobblestone drive before he encountered Agatha, which was a complete surprise to him. She was on another horse and they almost collided.
“Oh!” Agatha said, as if he had let his horse gallop out past the end of the cobblestone drive. She looked up at him and her face instantly changed from anger to longing. “Oh, hello, Gabe! I didn’t know that was you coming up this way.”
He had his doubts she didn’t know it was him.
“How are you feeling today, Agatha?” he asked.
“I’m doing well today. How about you?”
“I am fine, thank you for asking. Where… where you heading?” He hesitated to keep the conversation going lest she think he was her husband because he talked to her.
“I… I’m going to the schoolhouse!” Agatha said it as if she finally knew what her destination was.
He raised his eyebrows, gripping the reins of his horse tightly. “Oh? Why would you be going there? Taking Claire her lunch?” He teased her with a sly grin. She stuck out her tongue at him.
“No, silly, I might be the new headmistress there. I’ve been asked specifically.”
Gabe tried not to choke on his laughter. He didn’t want to laugh. The woman was obviously delusional. He’d heard nothing about Miss Berry retiring. He debated whether he wanted to keep this up or call it quits. He didn’t want to hurt Agatha’s heart, the way he had to dozens of others. He hadn’t particularly cared about the others, because they were unhappy miserable women who didn’t bother to try. He wanted a fiery woman with a mind of her own. Not someone who was ready to lie down dead at his feet if asked.
“Who asked you to do that?” He didn’t want to poke holes in her story but he had the feeling he was about to.
“The… the mayor, of course.”
“The mayor isn’t in town right now,” Gabe said softly.
Agatha flapped one hand in the air as if what he’d said didn’t matter at all. “Oh, I don’t mean today. I am going for my first day. I’ve been talking to the Mayor about this and he seemed very happy about it.”
“But… but you seem to be the only one who knows.”
Agatha stared at him. He could see she was processing what he was saying and trying to think of something else to come up with. He wondered if she knew that she had a growing reputation as a liar. It wasn’t welcomed behavior. When it was predictable, it was a lot harder to be duped.
“I’m sure there are plenty of other people who know. You wouldn’t know because… you don’t have any children going there.”
He nodded. “That’s true, Agatha, I don’t. But Claire has been talking about this new job of hers for more than two weeks. You’ve never mentioned it before.”
Agatha sighed in frustration. “Well, I’m going up there. Did you want to come with me?”
He shook his head. “I have something important to do in town,” he responded.
“Do you want some company? I’d be glad to ride along with you.”
“It’s not necessary. I don’t need someone with me all the time.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean it like that. I just thought you might like some company.”
He pictured her riding along next to him, talking about everything and everyone she saw. She’d probably mention how many children she wanted to have with him and when their wedding date should be. He pulled himself out of the fantasy quickly, shaking his head. “I understand. But no, sometimes, a man just wants to be left alone to his thoughts. You see?”
She looked disappointed but not angry. He was glad to see that. “It’s all right, Gabe. I’m sure I’ll see you back at the hotel.”
“You definitely will, Miss Agatha,” he replied in a voice that made her smile at him. “You definitely will. You have a fine day now.” He tipped his hat to her and urged his horse to pass her by. She waved to him.
“See you at the hotel, Gabe,” she called after him. He didn’t turn around. He lifted one hand and pointed at the sky with two fingers as a backwards “see you”.
The people of Wickenburg were out in full force that day. Nearly every woman was on her porch sweeping, chatting, drinking tea, or beating a rug. Some of the men looked like they were tending to business while others cleaned the streets, helped their women, loaded wagons, and yelled loudly to each other.
He enjoyed the atmosphere. It was like Kentucky in a way but there weren’t as many people. In addition, he didn’t have every woman in town pawing him, calling to him and making him self-conscious. He reveled in the fact that he was able to go to the store for nails and not be stopped by a dozen fawning women.
He touched the tip of his hat every time he caught the eyes of a woman. He liked that it made them blush and giggle. He didn’t like it when they followed after his horse. Sometimes, though, he was willing to take the bad with the good. He wouldn’t stop being friendly because women couldn’t resist him. He would have to go with the flow.
He dismounted outside the hardware shop and went in after securing his horse. A tiny bell tinkled above his head when he went in. He looked up at it and then around the small shop. Nails of all sizes weren’t the only thing the man was selling. He had tools of all kinds, blades, hammers and other necessities when building a house or a piece of furniture.
“You have something to make measurements with?” Mr. Blumguard came around from behind the counter, holding something. Gabe looked at him.
“Something to make measurements with?”
Mr. Blumguard nodded vigorously. He was an easily excitable man, especially when it came to new tools and gadgets that would help a working man work harder, better and faster. He held the gadget out so Gabe could take it from him. “This here’s the most modern measuring tape I’ve got,” the man said, excitedly. “Why, I’ve already sold three of them! Look here, isn’t that something? Not like anything you’ve seen before, is it? It’s called Roe’s Electric Reel. It will cut down all of your measuring time, I promise you. Don’t know if you’ve been using the chains or not. If you’d like, I’ve got some of those in stock, too. But this is much easier to use, I guarantee it.”
Gabe took the small metal casing and turned it over in his hand. “This is interesting.”
“That one is only 25 feet. I can get them up to a hundred for you.”
“How much are you charging for it?”
“Just five dollars.”
“Five dollars!” Gabe shook his head. “I don’t know, Mr. Blumguard. I bought one recently that works just fine for me.”
“I’m sure we can find a better one for you.”
“I’ve come in for nails and adhesive. I might need some blades or a new hand saw. I wasn’t planning on buying a measuring tape.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to try it out? It’s got amazing features. The measurements are etched into the ribbon so there’s no guessing whatsoever.”
Gabe didn’t think he was going to ever get rid of the man. He grinned. “All right, all right, Mr. Blumguard. I’ll buy it. But can you please get the other items on this list for me?”
“I’ll do that, Gabe! Please call me Ned! You won’t regret it. You’ll be able to say you are one of the first people to buy Justus Roe and Sons new Electric Reel. You’ll be happy with it, I just know you will. And you can give your old one to some young sprite who’s just starting out. Help him learn a trade.”
“That’s a good idea, Ned. I just might do that.” Satisfied, Gabe looked down at the reel, still turning it over in his hands. He went to the front counter and waited for Ned to return with the rest of his items. While he was waiting, he reached into a jar next to the register that had long strands of licorice in it. He pulled one out and took a huge bite off it. He leaned on the counter, chewing thoughtfully, his eyes staring
blankly in front of him. He couldn’t get the lovely Claire off his mind. He couldn’t wait to see her at the hotel that evening. He wished he had something to give her to show his affection for her.
He eyed the candy jar, wondering if she liked licorice. Getting a woman candy always seemed to capture their hearts. Something he’d learned before he realized he didn’t have to woo any woman. They would come to him. However, he wanted to buy it for her. He wanted to buy her something.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MISS BERRY’S ADVICE
MISS BERRY’S ADVICE
The children were filing out slowly for once. Claire watched them. They were talking and laughing, the boys gently pushing each other around, the girls giggling behind their hands. She folded her arms over her chest and watched through the upstairs window as the children went their separate ways.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Miss Berry came up next to her. Her arrival was warm and gentle and didn’t scare Claire.
“I was just thinking about the children,” Claire answered her. “Wondering if they like me or not.”
“They liked you.”
“How can you tell?”
“There are several boys that like to pick on the girls and they were very well-behaved today. They either matured or… they like you.” Miss Berry giggled. “I think we should go for the latter.”
Claire grinned. “I’ve been here teaching all of one day and we’re gonna go with that? You’re grasping at straws, my dear friend.”
Miss Berry laughed aloud that time. “Oh, Claire. I’m so glad you were sent to help me here. You are a delight.”
“Well, thank you. I like you, too.”
“Shall we clean up the room a bit and go get some coffee at the hotel?”
“We can do that or get a drink at the Horse N Saddle. They have Coca-Cola there. It’s cold. Sam keeps it in the icebox. We requested it and he got it.”
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