Greg

by Kathleen Ball

  Greg filled his bucket and skedaddled back to the mine. He walked in and found Mercy up and dressed, pulling her mud-caked boots on. When she was finished, she grabbed the dipper and took some water, poured it into her tin cup, and then drank it down. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve and walked into the mine.

  He’d had the silent treatment from his sisters before. It wouldn’t last long. After putting coffee on, he grabbed his gloves and a lamp and then went down into the mine. Mercy had already removed the boards covering the vein of gold. Her body stiffened when he joined her, but she didn’t turn to look at him.

  Fine with him, he’d use the pickaxe and get enough rocks to fool everyone. He swung once then twice. It felt great to get his anger out as he hit more rock. The whole camp thought he’d been a buffoon when making love to his wife. He wouldn’t know, and at the rate they were going he’d never know. It was crazy. She was his wife; she should be doing what wives did.

  He almost laughed. She didn’t know what wives did. She didn’t know how a lady acted. She’d grown up with miners and acted like one. He filled the pail with rocks and went back to fresh air.

  He sat outside and examined a rock. He wasn’t being fair to Mercy. She was a kind, gentle, caring woman, and he was lucky to have her. Somehow he’d have to convince her he cared about her.

  Greg watched as Carl was making the rounds. He did it every day to remind those who owed him money that he’d take their claim in satisfaction. He really meant he’d take it by force. Carl started to walk by without a second glance at Greg.

  “Carl, can I ask you something?” Greg asked.

  “What can I do for you? I hear you and Mercy are on the outs. Shelly is good at consoling men.” His face twisted into an ugly leer.

  “Mercy and I are married. We’ll get it figured out. Why would you take worthless mines as payment for a debt? It doesn’t seem like good business to me.”

  Carl pushed his hat back on his head. “That’s why I’m a businessman and you’re a miner. There have been a few smaller strikes around here. If I own enough of the claims I’ll talk one of the mining companies to come in and dig this whole place up. They usually build a town of sorts and bring their own men. Now these men get mighty thirsty and needy.”

  “You’ve done this before.”

  Carl nodded. “If you can be one step ahead of the companies, you can make good money. One day, I’ll find a town I want to settle in, and I’ll build myself the biggest house and have the prettiest wife.”

  Greg stared at him. “No one else is trying to do the same thing?”

  Carl’s grin turned evil. “If they do, they soon find out it isn’t good for their health.” He took a menacing step toward Greg. “Understand?”

  “Sure, I understand. Could you take a look at this rock? It seems prettier than the others. Is it anything?” He handed the rock to Carl.

  Carl frowned and then laughed. “That ain’t no gold. You keep trying though. You never know you might strike it rich.”

  He released a heavy sigh. “Darn, I was hoping.”

  “You don’t know what it looks like?” Carl asked.

  “Not on a rock. I’ve seen a couple nuggets miners have, but that’s it.”

  Carl shrugged. “Maybe you should mine your claim and let Mercy mine this one. Your tent could be sitting on a wagonload of gold.” Shaking his head, Carl walked away.

  It felt good to fool Carl. Now he thought Greg to be stupid, and that was just fine. And he’d found out why Carl wanted the claims. Greg planned to be far away from the mining camp before it became a town. He was so lost in thought he didn’t notice Mercy until she blocked the sun.

  She sat next to him and was silent for a while. Finally she turned to him. “What rock did you show him?”

  Greg handed it to her.

  “I do believe that to be quartz. You’re a good liar. Carl won’t be watching you as closely anymore.”

  A good liar? He didn’t think she meant it as a compliment. “I’m sorry about yesterday.”

  She looked out at the camp. “You aren’t usually so mean. I’m not used to being compared to a whore.”

  “Mercy, look at me.” He waited until she turned her head. In the sunlight he could see how puffy her eyes were, and his heart hurt. “I didn’t mean to be such a jerk. I didn’t realize listening to you bathe would make me so crazy.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  He nodded. “I know, and that’s the problem. I’m wildly attracted to you, and my body responds to the thought of us in bed together.”

  “But we sleep in the same bunk, well except for last night.” Her eyes widened. “You want—oh, my. That’s why you mentioned Shelly. I couldn’t figure out why you said what you did because I’ve never—”

  He reached out and took her hand. “I know you haven’t. Do you ever think about it or feel desire?”

  Mercy quickly jumped up and went into the living quarters.

  Greg sighed and followed her. “Mercy, I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.”

  “I thought there was something wrong with me. You didn’t seem to want me, and I felt like a hussy. My heart can feel the pull of your heart. But unless you plan to stay my husband, I’d rather we left things the way they are. I don’t want to be left carrying your baby. It’s a lot to think about.” Her eyes looked determined though a bit misty. “I’m going back in.”

  He watched her leave. Why did she think he was leaving her? It seemed from the first she’d never thought of them as really married.

  ***

  For the next week Mercy slept in her bunk alone while Greg slept in her father’s. They did the same thing each day. She’d mine the gold while he broke pieces of rock from the walls of the mine. Each day she’d hide the gold under the commode and then late in the day, they’d sit outside together pretending to examine rocks.

  Finally,one night Mercy finally saw Tim leave his claim. She snuck in and stole two of the large empty crates she’d caught a glimpse of when she had first talked to him. She shifted some of his belongings and moved a couple of other supply crates around to cover what she’d taken. Her heart beat wildly until she was once again safe at her mine. She sat on her bunk smiling at a job well done.

  She smiled as she grabbed some smaller pieces of lumber and cut them to fit in the bottom of the crates. When she was satisfied with the fit, she took the lumber out and laid it aside. Finally, she grabbed the hidden gold. Using the small pick, she broke some of the dirt away from the vein of gold. Then she layered the gold into the bottom of the crate and set the lumber on top of it, creating a false bottom. She added a blanket and then searched the living quarters for more goods to set inside the crate. A cleanish shirt that had been her pa’s covered more of the bottom. She tested the weight of the crate. It was fairly heavy. With another glance around, her gaze lit on some tin plates and matching cups. She added those to the top, along with a frame that had belonged to her ma. Satisfied that they would be able to lift the crate, she turned to the next and fashioned its false bottom.

  Greg wandered in as she was laying the gold inside, and his eyes grew wide. He took his gun out of his holster. “I’ll stand by the entrance. You’re not making those too heavy?”

  She shook her head and studied the finished false bottom. “I think they’ll be manageable, but I’ll need to make more false bottoms on some of our other crates.

  She settled more gold in the bottom of the crate and laid lumber over the pieces. It fit even better than the first. She laid in more of her father’s clothing then left room at the top for work tools.

  She exchanged grins with Greg. It looked like her idea might work. They could leave in disgrace, appearing broke and ready to give up with no one the wiser. She reburied the gold that hadn’t fit in the two crates. She wanted to celebrate. Success like this was why so many men yelled “Eureka!” when they struck gold. It was a life changer. It was validation of all the hardships and hard work. She just stood in the middle of t
he living quarters and smiled. They were going to do it.

  Greg peeked outside once again before he holstered his gun. He smiled back but he didn’t move.

  Mercy sighed. They hadn’t made any steps to become closer to each other. She tried to ignore him half the time. She wasn’t sure what she expected but one thing she knew for sure he should make the first move. She honestly thought he’d try to reassure her that he wasn’t leaving her behind but he never said a word about it. It was plain to her that he too didn’t think of their marriage as real.

  Prospecting for gold left too much time to dream and it hurt to dream because all her dreams included him. He’d go back to Oregon and perhaps she’d go to San Francisco. She’d never see him again. Her happiness flowed away.

  “How long before we can go?”

  “I have to figure out how to get Tim to trade us for his wagon,” she murmured. “I don’t want to cheat him, but if we pay him in gold, our secret will be out.”

  “You don’t trust him?” asked Greg, frowning.

  “He’s green. I don’t know if he can keep his mouth shut.

  Their gazes met and held.

  “How much can we take? I don’t think it smart to cash the gold in anywhere near here. Instead of trusting Tim, I’ll go and get us an old wagon and a team.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Something kindabeat up, like someone down on his luck might be able to purchase.

  “Will I be riding on that wagon, too?”

  “If that’s what you want, Mercy. I know you have plans that don’t include me, but I thought we’d go and stay with my parents for a bit. They’ll love you.” His voice was gentle.

  “You don’t have to feel responsible for me. I can take care of myself.” She went and sat on her bunk and stared into the fire. She already felt the ache of losing him. The pain would only worsen. Her heart was going to break no matter what she did. Why not take the comfort he offered now? She’d never find another man she loved like she loved Greg.

  She turned and studied his face. His strong jaw always fascinated her. “You can come to my bunk if you wish.”

  He stared at her as though he’d never seen her before, and her face heated. Why hadn’t she just kept her mouth shut?

  “Mercy, are you coming with me when I leave?” He was so serious as though this was the question that would determine their lives.

  Time went by, and silence filled the small living quarters while she tried to figure out what to say. She took too long, and he shook his head and left. Perhaps it was better that he did leave. She’d give anything to have him holding her again but he didn’t want her. Not really. He’d find out as soon as she was among people other than miners that she didn’t know how to behave. She wasn’t one to mix with polite society, and she was hopelessly inadequate.

  Heck, she didn’t even have proper clothes. If she went her own way, she could buy the clothes and not have to mingle with others. She’d hire a girl who could do all errands and she’d be the woman who never came out of her house. But it would be a fine house. She lay down on her bunk. It would also be a lonely house with no husband and no children, but that would be better than being a constant embarrassment to Greg.

  She tossed and turned until Greg stumbled through the flap and flopped down on his bunk. She could smell the whiskey on his breath.

  She also could smell perfume.

  It shook her to her core, and she tried everything to keep the tears at bay, but they wouldn’t be denied. She cried silently into her pillow.

  She could break some of the larger rock with color into smaller pieces, take some of the better ones. A saddle bag filled with some would be enough. She could take them and be on her way. First she’d need a ride to Hang Town so she could catch a coach to San Francisco. She had enough smaller nuggets to use to buy what she needed. She didn’t want to be robbed. She’d inquire starting tomorrow.

  ***

  Greg woke up and groaned. He wasn’t much of a drinker, but knowing that Mercy didn’t love him had beat him up inside. He had thought he’d have a drink then go back, but Carl had bought him a couple more. He hoped Mercy had been asleep before he returned. He remembered most of the night, but some things were a bit hazy.

  He sat up feeling better than he’d imagined. The flap was open, and he could see by the position of the sun that he’d missed most of the morning. It didn’t matter how much he loved her, he couldn’t make Mercy love him back. Maybe he was only lovable to his ma.

  He washed and drank some coffee before he went into the mine. From the glare he received, he gathered Mercy had been awake when he came in last night.

  “I’m sorry, I got up late.”

  She still glared.

  “I had a few whiskeys, and I’m not one for drinking much. It clouded my thinking.”

  “Who did you tell about the mine?”

  He furrowed his brow. “No one. Why? Was someone here?”

  “No one sweet talked information from you?”

  “Why would you think that?” Alarm shot through him. “Mercy, did something happen?”

  “If you don’t remember, maybe you should have a talk with Shelly. You came in with whiskey on your breath and Shelly’s perfume on you. The perfume was very strong, so you must have spent a lot of close time together,” she said in a sad voice. “Well, I have work to do. “I hid more gold in the corner there, under those heavier rocks.” She turned and continued to mine the gold.

  He swallowed hard as he grabbed the pickaxe. He drove the tool into the wall over and over, struggling to remember Shelly and last night. He recalled her being there, but he would swear he hadn’t touched her. She’d sat on his lap more than once and put her hand on his arm while whispering invitations to go upstairs to him. He hadn’t gone. And he didn’t tell anyone about the gold.

  He kept at it until he had enough rocks in the bucket. Then he put down the pickaxe and went to Mercy’s side. “I didn’t lie with Shelly. I respect the vows we took, you and I, and I’d never endanger you by talking about the mine.”

  He grabbed the bucket and walked outside. Her eyes had grown big and round. They were also red, he’d noticed, even in the dim light. Once again, he had caused her pain. He needed to figure out what to do to make her smile again. He hadn’t a clue. His pa would have known for sure. But his pa was far away in Oregon. He sat outside and pretended to examine the rocks. It was boring work.

  Catching movement in the corner of his eye, he watched as Glad made his way up to the mine. “Hey, Glad.”

  “Howdy. Listen, I have something for you to give to your wife. I figured you’d be on the outs today after last night.”

  “Truthfully, Glad, last night was a bit of a blur.”

  Glad sat down next to him. “Heck, they plied you with whiskey and kept asking if your mine had any gold. They even asked you to sign the mine over. I should say mines, they wanted both of them. When that didn’t work, they got Shelly to have a go at you.”

  Greg’s heart beat frantically as he started questioning the way he had remembered things. “I didn’t?”

  “Naw, you pushed her off you more than once. She tried sitting on your lap and kissing your neck. You wanted no part of her. Her and Carl were hoppin’ mad when you left. They wasted free whiskey and Shelly’s attention on you, and you didn’t oblige them. I’ve seen it work for them more times than not, but not last night. Anyway, I figured your wife was probably pretty hurt. Shelly wears so much perfume that anyone she touches goes back smelling like her.”

  “That’s the truth. I don’t know what to say to Mercy,” Greg confessed.

  “Here.” Glad handed Greg a wedding band. “I made this a long time ago. I was going to give it to my wife, but she took off.”

  “I can’t take this. She might be back.”

  Glad shook his head. “She knows where I am if she needs me. I can make another one. I like makin’ them.”

  “Let me at least pay you.”

  Glad stood up. “It’s my wedding prese
nt to you both. You’re wasting your time with those rocks. I doubt any of them have a speck of gold.”

  Greg stood and shook Glad’s hand. “Thank you. You’re probably right about the rocks, but anything is better than nothing.”

  Greg closed his hand around the ring. He needed to have a talk with Mercy. He wanted her in his life. But she sure was a stubborn woman, and his behavior last night hadn’t helped anything.”

  ***

  A supply wagon came at least once a week, always on Wednesdays and sometimes on Saturdays. She’d best plan to leave next Wednesday. She groaned as she mined the gold. Today was Thursday. It would be a long heart breaking week. But at least he hadn’t told anyone about the gold. The rest didn’t matter.

  She took a deep breath, but the heartache was worse than ever. Maybe she should have asked him to bed her. He probably figured out she just wasn’t meant to be a wife. Why else go with Shelly? If only she had a place to hide from everyone. The house in San Francisco she’d dreamed up was sounding better and better. She needed her pa. He’d have known what to do. Her heart twisted. She still expected him to come walking into the mine like he always did.

  The more gold they could mine the better. She wanted enough to get away with, but Greg deserved an equal share. The vein of gold they’d found hadn’t petered out, and she didn’t expect it to. She chipped away at the gold faster than before. She needed as much as she could possibly carry. She could take the mule. She’d be able put gold in the saddle bags. She could also carry some. Then once in town she could buy a horse. Taking a stage coach was out after all. People would know by the weight, what she was carrying. She’d need to start gathering supplies.

  Things were getting complicated. Maybe she should go in the same direction as Greg. There was bound to be a town near his family’s ranch. It would be the smarter option, but could her heart take it? If loving meant so much heartache, she’d rather not love. Caring too much just led to unhappiness. She wanted her calm life back. Not that it had been really calm. They’d always been moving, but she had known what to expect. With Greg, she was out of her element. And he deserved better.