Books and Beaus

by Marianne Spitzer

  Leer held the door for Meg and insisted, “Everyone is excited to have a library, and there’s no reason for you to think anyone might not accept you. You’ll find Creede is a pleasant place.”

  They found a quiet table and sat down. Meg ordered a cup of tea to ward off the chill while Leer ordered coffee. They sipped their drinks while they waited for their orders of beef sandwiches and fried potatoes.

  Meg looked across the table at Leer and said, “You told me you’d tell me what brought you to Creede when we had more time. What about now?” Her sparkling brown eyes danced with excitement and Leer would have done anything she asked.

  Leer dropped his head for a moment and then explained the entire story of how he met Delia and Wes and how he nearly ruined their lives, but it all turned out well. Delia’s father was grateful to learn of his wife’s deception and hired Leer to find her. After Delia’s step-mother was returned to New York, Wes’ father offered Leer a job at his new San Francisco shipping company. Leer and his brother now worked for the new company.

  “I’m here to help build the library because I promised Wes I would. We became friends after I helped bring the man who lied about being Delia’s fiancé to justice. When I promised to return and help, I didn’t know I would be offered the new job in San Francisco or that I would enjoy the warm weather as much as I do,” Leer told Meg just as their lunches arrived.

  Meg stared at the handsome red-haired man and thought if she were looking for a husband instead of a career, she couldn’t find a better possibility than Leer. It was good he planned to return to San Francisco when the library was finished because she knew she could easily lose her heart to a man like Sean O’Leary.

  Lunch was delightful and over too quickly, but both Meg and Leer had work to do at the barn and Leer assumed Wes might wonder where they were. They strolled arm in arm to the barn. Delia saw them from her front window and smiled. Mister Thistlewaite followed them unseen to anyone and enjoyed the sunshine above him, and the love he knew was starting to take root in both Meg and Leer.

  Back at the barn, Leer helped Meg with her coat, and she thanked him again for lunch and the walk through town. Smiling, she hurried across the barn to the table she would use to write her letters to the book suppliers.

  Percy met her at the table and said, “I have a new bench for you to sit on while you work. I came in early and finished it. Wait one minute, and I’ll get it from the back.”

  Meg stared after Percy wondering about the changes in the unkempt man she met yesterday. Gone was the stringy coal black hair held back with a leather tie, the bushy beard and mustache, and the clothes that Meg knew hadn’t seen a washtub in weeks. Today, Percy was clean shaven, had a fresh haircut, his clothes were freshly washed and appeared new, and Meg noticed the slight scent of bay rum. Was today a typical day for Percy or did he clean up for an unknown reason?

  When Percy hurried back with the bench and said, “I hope this works well for you. If not, please let me know, and I’ll fix it or build you another,” Meg worried he might have cleaned up for her. She shook her head as she sat on the new bench hoping he didn’t see himself as a possible suitor.

  Meg’s afternoon flew by quickly. She started by writing the letters to the three suppliers and perusing the catalogs and making lists of books the library would need. Her list wasn’t as long as she wished, but until she knew exactly how many shelves she needed to fill, she kept the list to a minimum. Meg was so busy she never noticed the two men who kept glancing her way throughout the afternoon.

  However, Mister Thistlewaite, who had been sitting on an empty chair in the corner of the barn, watched everything closely. He knew he needed to guide Leer, but he could sense something wasn’t right with the emotions in the barn. There was a layer of negativity that circled the employees. Mister Thistlewaite knew he would have to keep a close watch on Leer and those he called friends.

  Chapter 9

  Meg was grateful when Wes suggested Percy drive her back to the Hearth and Home in the buggy rather than have her walk in the cold. Clouds had rapidly replaced the early afternoon’s sunshine. Flurries swirled around her and quickly covered her coat and scarf with a dusting of snow.

  “Thank you for driving me,” Meg said to Percy. “I didn’t realize how cold it was this afternoon. I think it was warmer this morning.”

  Percy smiled. “It’s my pleasure. The weather here can change quickly, and the cold that slides down the mountain can chill you to the bone quickly. Walking wouldn’t have been the best idea.”

  Percy stopped in front of the Hearth and Home and helped Meg from the wagon.

  “Thank you again, Percy. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Meg smiled and hurried into the Hearth and Home to get out of the cold.

  A slow smile slid across Percy’s face as he mumbled, ‘You’ll see me much sooner, Meg dear, whether you expect to or not and soon you’ll see me every day.”

  As Meg hurried upstairs to drop off her coat and return to the dining room for supper, Percy was pulling the wagon down the street to a spot where he could safely leave the horse and buggy while he walked back to the Hearth and Home where he hoped to see Meg again. If he didn’t see her, he’d send a message to her room asking her to join him for supper. Percy smiled as he strode past the windows and saw Meg seated at a small table alone. Since she was alone, it would make supper special.

  Percy, hat in hand, strolled up to Meg’s table. “Hello again, Miss Meg. I decided a warm meal would be better than going home to my cabin and trying to warm up while I ate day-old bread and cold meat. Would you mind if I joined you?”

  Meg smiled at the tall man and nodded, “I’d like that. I truly do not enjoy eating alone.”

  Percy pulled out a chair and sat across from Meg. “I hate eating alone, too. I’m not the best cook, and I burn much of what I make.”

  “Oh, my,” Meg responded trying not to giggle. “That must make life difficult.”

  “It does, which is why I decided to have supper here. Seeing you is an added pleasure,” Percy said as he smiled at Meg.

  Meg blushed and looked down at her hands just as the waitress appeared. “Good evening, what can I get for you tonight?”

  Percy nodded at Meg, and she said, “I’ll have the chicken and dumplings and a cup of tea please.”

  Percy spoke up, “I’ll have the pan-fried steak, potatoes, and coffee, please. I hope you have pie for dessert.”

  The waitress wrote on her notepad, smiled, and answered, “I’ll be back with your coffee and tea and your food as soon as it’s ready and yes we have pie. Apple and cherry tonight.”

  “This is very nice indeed,” Percy said as he continued to stare at Meg.

  She tried to smile, but there was something about his smile that bothered her. Meg tried to smile at everyone she met and help brighten their day, but for some reason, Percy’s smile seemed more than friendly. She knew that there was a disproportionate number of women in town compared to the men considering all the miners, but surely Percy didn’t see her as more than another employee of Mister Satterfield’s.

  Percy interrupted her thoughts. “Do you enjoy cooking?”

  “What?” Meg stammered before composing herself. “I didn’t do a lot of cooking after my father passed away. My aunt preferred her own cooking to anyone else’s, and when I lived at the boarding house, I helped more with laundry than cooking, but I can cook if I need to.”

  “Then you’re good at household chores if you did a lot of washing?” Percy asked while staring straight into her eyes again.

  Meg’s brow furrowed as she contemplated how to answer a question, she wasn’t sure why Percy asked. “If you’re inquiring whether I can take care of a household, the answer is yes, but I’m here to work as a librarian and not a maid.”

  Before Percy could comment, the waitress placed their meals on the table and asked if she could bring them anything else. Percy shook his head, and Meg smiled at her and answered, “No thank you.”

  Percy f
inished his meal before Meg was halfway finished with hers and began speaking again. “I like women that can take care of the house. It shows they’ll make good wives and care for their husbands properly.”

  Meg was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the conversation and continued to eat without saying a word.

  “Why have you become so quiet? I hope my questions haven’t upset you,” Percy said while reaching for Meg’s hand.

  Meg pulled her hand away and did her best to smile although she felt more like screaming at the forward man. “I’m just hungry and want to finish my chicken before it gets cold.”

  “I see. You said you don’t cook a lot. Can you make chicken and dumplings? I have chickens. Perhaps you could make it for me sometime.”

  “I think that would be highly inappropriate,” Meg answered without looking up from her plate. She didn’t want to meet Percy’s eyes.

  Percy continued, “We could invite Delia and Wes. If you went to my cabin early enough to make dinner while the rest of us were at work, it wouldn’t be inappropriate. You could have your choice of which chickens to kill and make the best possible dish.”

  Meg snorted out loud. “Excuse me. You expect me to go to your cabin and kill chickens for supper.”

  “Of course. Where else would you get the chickens?” Percy asked his annoyance with her becoming apparent.

  “At a butcher, if I were so inclined, but I’m not, so it doesn’t matter. I never have, and I will never kill a chicken. It’s why we have butchers,” Meg insisted.

  “You have spent too much time with your nose in books. If you were my wife, you’d kill chickens and do every other chore required. A butcher indeed. I never heard of someone who refuses to kill a chicken for dinner. Would you rather starve?” Percy asked glaring at her across the table.

  “This subject is ridiculous. First, I can bake bread so I wouldn’t starve. Second, I will say again that I will never kill a chicken, and third, I have no intention of being anyone’s wife for quite some time and certainly not yours. We just met.”

  “I know that, but that’s what courting is for. We’ll get to know each other before we marry. I wouldn’t expect you to marry me right off,” Percy smiled at his suggestion knowing he’d convince Meg. “We’ll court for a month or a little longer if you decide you need the time. Then we’ll marry.”

  A horrified look crossed Meg’s face, and her brown eyes flashed with frustration. “Are you serious?”

  “Of course, I am, my dear. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve seen in quite some time. Well, there are other beautiful women in town, but none wants to spend time with me. You had supper with me and seemed to enjoy it at least for a while. The more we get to know each other, the more you’ll like me, you’ll see,” Percy insisted as he took a sip of his coffee.

  Meg shook her head. “No, I won’t. I told you I’m here for work. I traveled a long way to become the librarian in Creede.”

  Percy shrugged. “Perhaps you are, but now that you have a beau, things will change.”

  “Mister Beals, I can assure you I am here to work as a librarian and not to look for a beau,” Meg insisted.

  Percy laughed, “But my dear, you have a beau whether you want one or not. I told you I wish to court you and from the way O’Leary looks at you, I think he’d like to be your beau also. I do believe I’m better for you than he is, and you’d be wise to choose me. Besides, he keeps saying he’s going back to San Francisco.”

  Meg tossed her napkin on the table and stood while glaring at Percy. “I told you I am not interested in having a beau and most certainly not in having more than one. I am here for books, Mister Beals, not beaus.”

  Meg spun on her heel and left the dining room without a backward glance.

  Percy smirked as he watched Meg storm from the room. He liked her spirit, but he’d make sure her spirit didn’t overpower his authority. She’d be his and after some time at his cabin working, cleaning, and plucking chickens, Meg would become exactly the type of woman he wanted. She just needed a bit more convincing.

  Chapter 10

  Meg opened her eyes to filtered sunshine coming through the lace curtains on her window. She groaned and rolled over pulling the blankets up to her neck. The lack of sunshine could only mean one thing…snow. It was snowing when she went to bed, and she worried it was still snowing. It meant a long walk to work. After several minutes, she tossed the blankets back and sat on the edge of her bed.

  She was still angry about Percy’s assumptions about their relationship. How can you have a relationship after knowing someone for two days? Maybe life moved faster out West but not that fast. Even mail-order brides corresponded with their potential grooms, didn’t they?

  Meg saw the envelopes for the letters she’d written the day before on the dresser and dressed quickly. She needed to eat breakfast, mail the letters, and get to the barn to begin organizing the books in the various crates stored around the barn. Leer told her another shipment was due in today. Once she knew which books they had, she could start her list of new books to order. Meg hummed as she dressed and hurried down to breakfast.

  After mailing her letters, she began walking toward the edge of town and Mountain Avenue.

  Before she had walked too far, she heard a buggy and horse stop next to her. Wes waved her over. “Delia sent me into town to pick something up for her and I thought I’d drive you to the barn, but you had already left your hotel. Would you like a ride?”

  Meg replied, “Yes, thank you very much. I would appreciate a ride. I didn’t realize it was going to be this cold this morning. Perhaps I should buy a warmer coat.”

  Wes helped Meg into the buggy, and in just a few short minutes they arrived at the barn. When they walked inside Meg could immediately feel Percy’s gaze on her. She glanced in his direction and saw that he had stopped working to look at her. It made her uncomfortable, and she hoped it would not interfere with her job. She wanted to ask Wes whether Percy would be working at the library after it was built, but she didn’t want to cause any trouble between Percy and Wes.

  Meg looked away and hurried to her table to begin cataloging the books. She continued working at the table for well over an hour before Percy walked up.

  “Good morning, Meg,” Percy said. “I enjoyed having supper with you last night. I hope we can do it again sometime soon.”

  Meg shook her head, and said, “I don’t think that’s a very good idea, Mister Beals. I think we should keep our relationship professional.”

  Percy gave her a hard stare before he turned and stomped across the barn back to his work.

  Meg quickly glanced around to make sure that neither Wes or Leer had seen the interaction between her and Percy. Satisfied that no one had seen them, she returned to her cataloging. It was quite a while later when Leer approached her table and asked, “How is it coming along? Do you have any idea how many books we have yet and how many more we will need?”

  Meg answered, “I have cataloged well over one-hundred books, but I’m not sure how many more to order until Percy can tell me how much shelf space there will be. I would hate to over order and have crates of books sitting in the corner of the new library or stored upstairs and not used.”

  Leer scrunched his eyebrows, “How will you figure that out?”

  “I plan to measure several books of various widths and find an average. Then I will assume that every group of books will have the same measurements. All I have to do then is figure out how many of those books will fit on each shelf and hopefully have enough shelf room for the books I will eventually order.”

  Leer shrugged, “That sounds like a good system. You’re a bright young woman.”

  Meg blushed and smiled at Leer. “Thank you.”

  Leer shoved his hands into his pockets not sure what else to say and finally stammered, “I can measure those shelves for you. I’ll be back.” He spun on his heel and walked across the barn silently yelling at himself for getting tongue-tied around Meg each time she
smiled at him.

  Meg watched him walk away, and a tiny smile lifted her lips. She had made Leer nervous. She hadn’t meant to, but she did. Somehow, she liked the feeling of making the big man nervous. After all, he could make her blush nearly every time he spoke to her. Maybe making him nervous was an even trade. She giggled as she turned back to her work.

  A short while later, Leer returned with some figures written on a piece of paper. “These are the suggested measurements, Wes’ architect friend added to the plans. Each shelf has four shelves, and Percy says he’ll make as many as we need. The library building will be large, and I’m not sure if we’ll have more books than space or more space than books. The architect thought the building could hold as many shelves as we nee.”

  Meg looked at the figures and smiled. “If these figures are correct, this new building will be larger than the library I worked for previously. We had more than enough room for all the books and room for growth. Also, many of the reference books will be on the second floor for the classes they hope to teach there.”

  Leer returned Meg’s smile and added, “We’re expecting another shipment today. I expect it will be here soon.”

  Meg bit her lip and then whispered, “Are you sure it’s all right if I order enough books to fill or partially fill these new shelves? It’s going to cost a small fortune.”

  Leer nodded, “Don’t worry about the cost. Wes and his family have a large fortune, and Wes is well aware of what the final cost will be or a close estimate.”

  “I’ve heard of the Satterfields, but I never imagined,” Meg’s voice trailed off when loud pounding came from the main doors.

  “Imagine all you want, and you’re probably right,” Leer answered. “That will be our shipment. Get ready for more work.”