Prospecting for Love

by Barbara Baldwin

  Lucky came bursting through the door just at that moment, breathing hard as though he'd run all the way. Zeke cleared his throat shaking his head vigorously at Ellie when Jesse turned towards Lucky.

  "Lucky, where'd you run off to?" Jesse questioned, and Lucky's face immediately turned even brighter red.

  "I, uh," he stuttered, then shrugged. "I had me an errand to run." He pulled a plug of tobacco from his pocket and bit off a chew, grinning at his brother.

  Ellie hid a grin behind her hand, seeing the agitated look on Zeke's face. Lucky, who always seemed to take orders from Zeke, had apparently stopped somewhere along the way to get himself a treat. Seeing it, though, made Ellie want a cigarette, but knew she couldn’t smoke in front of Jesse. Zeke had said so.

  She only hoped a Quick-Trip was somewhere close because her pack was almost empty. Then she remembered she didn't have any money on her, and they were too far from town anyway, so it was all academic.

  "I suppose we should be walking Miss Elizabeth back to town," Zeke said, scooting back his chair to stand.

  "Town? You can walk me to town?" Ellie sprang up, instantly angry. Did Zeke mean the ghost town of Peavine or back to Reno?

  Jesse touched her arm, his warm hand causing tingles to shoot across her skin. "Elizabeth?" At her annoyed look, he started again. "What is wrong? You've acted strange all day."

  Ellie stood, hands on hips, glaring at the three men. Little did she realize her posture so exactly mirrored Elizabeth's that any charade they were trying to perpetrate was instantly cemented. If that hadn't done the trick, her words did. "What's wrong? These two old coots lied to me, that's what."

  Ellie saw Zeke standing behind Jesse waving his arms and shaking his head, but that didn't stop her. She was mad. "They said you were in trouble and needed help. They forced me to come out here."

  "Forced you? You mean you wouldn't come and see me on your own?" The hurt was unmistakable in Jesse's voice.

  "Well . . .that is . . .I had things to do," Ellie tried to backpedal.

  "I see. Then perhaps we should get you back to town so you can do them."

  Ellie looked outside. "It's dark." She didn’t like the dark.

  "Yes, it usually does that at night." Jesse's sarcasm gave Ellie pause. Was he so tenderhearted that her one comment had punctured his entire male ego? Then she saw his grin.

  "I'm sorry." She stated simply.

  In answer he extended his arm and Zeke and Lucky rushed to open the door, all the while arguing over the plug of tobacco Lucky kept in his possession.

  Ellie allowed Jesse to lead her down the path. When they got to a creek, he led her to where flat rocks had formed natural stepping-stones to the other side.

  Disappointed, she realized that this was probably the same creek she had seen earlier in the day. That meant they weren't very far from Peavine ghost town, but were too far from Reno to walk -- in the dark. At the moment, she thought she might prefer to stay at Jesse's cabin.

  As soon as Jesse hopped the last rock, she clutched his arm again as he walked unerringly forward. She tried to keep from thinking of the blackness surrounding her and the very long dark night ahead in the ghost town. She searched her mind, instead, for anything to discuss so there was noise.

  "I understand there are several Fravel mines in the area," she stated, and instantly Jesse's arm tightened beneath her hand.

  "Elizabeth, you know I won't discuss anything having to do with Clayton Scott or his mines. Why would you bring it up?" His angry reaction was so startling, Ellie couldn't think of a response. "Is that the ‘something you had to do’ -- visit with Clayton Scott?" Jesse pulled away from her and stomped off ahead.

  Ellie could hear Zeke and Lucky "uh-oh-ing" behind her, but she didn't know what she had said wrong.

  "Wait," she called out to him. This was like performing in a play when everyone knew the script except her. She hurried to catch up with Jesse, turning to face him and walking backward since he didn't stop when she stepped in front of him. Trying to imagine how the unknown Elizabeth would handle this, and hoping to gain insight into the situation, she smiled sweetly and said, "Jesse, please don't be mad. I keep forgetting--"

  "How can you forget Scott owns most of the rights to Fravel's mines on this side of the ridge? Did you also conveniently forget he runs your father's bank, which holds notes to most of those same mines?"

  "He does?" Ellie questioned without thinking.

  That stopped him. In fact, he stopped so abruptly that Zeke and Lucky just about collided trying to keep from bumping into him. Even in the dark, Ellie could see the questions in Jesse's eyes.

  Think fast, she told herself. Being an independent, freethinking woman, she hated what she was about to do.

  "Of course he does," she twittered, waving a hand aimlessly. She giggled, hoping she wasn't spreading it on too thick. "You know I have no head for business. Father would always handle that."

  "Yeah, well, I wish he were still here to do it. I don't trust Clayton Scott any further than I can throw him." Jesse's tone indicated he was pacified, and as Ellie moved to his side, she shot evil looks at Zeke and Lucky. Boy, did they have a lot of explaining to do.

  They broke through a line of trees and suddenly there were lights from town. Ellie blinked and shook her head, an unsettled feeling gnawing at her stomach. Her feet slowed. Soft glows came from several windows, as though fireplaces were lit or candles used instead of iridescent light bulbs.

  Ellie’s gaze swiveled from side to side; her stomach plummeted and her chest heaved. She stumbled, a flash of realization screaming through her brain. If Jesse hadn't grabbed her, she would have fallen face first in the dirt.

  "El, what's wrong?" It was a question Jesse had kept repeating all day, it seemed, but Ellie sure didn’t know how to answer him.

  Buildings swirled in crazy patterns before her eyes. She hugged herself, squeezed her eyes shut, then reopened them, trying to focus on something solid. Newly painted signs hung over several buildings -- Calhoun's Bank and Trust, Murphy's Mercantile and Feed Store. Slowly, as she walked further down the street, she tried to make sense of what her eyes saw but her emotions refused to acknowledge.

  The buildings on the main street were the same structures as she had seen earlier that day when her guide had left her stranded in Peavine -- with one major difference. These buildings were new; long years of wind and rain hadn't damaged their fixtures.

  She struggled for breath, knowing she had to get away from the ghostly shapes that seemed to jump out at her in the dark. She didn’t want her mind to shuffle the fragments into a solid thought. All she wanted to do was get back to Reno, and home. This was definitely not what she had bargained for when she took this assignment.

  Apparently Jesse noticed her pallor, for he hurried her along, turning down a side street to the second house. He led her up the two steps onto a wide covered porch.

  Ellie looked from the door to Jesse. Why had he stopped here?

  “You’re home.” Almost as though he read her mind, he turned the handle and the door opened beneath his grasp, squeaking slightly.

  Didn’t people lock their doors around here, Ellie wondered idly? She looked into the dark interior. If she ventured across the threshold, would she be permanently tied here; would she never escape and get back to where she belonged?

  Panicking, she turned around, looking past Jesse to where Zeke and Lucky stood. Lucky appeared quite pleased with the arrangement, but Zeke’s face was still apprehensive. At that moment, Ellie hated them both because they were the cause of her distress.

  If not for them, she wouldn’t be in this predicament. For that exact reason, she had to depend on them, because they were the only ones who knew how she came to be here. And how to get her back to where she belonged. Conflicting emotions caused her to lash out in anger.

  "You two, inside, now." Ellie pointed as she barked the command.

  "What?" All three men clamored at once.

  Ellie gritt
ed her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut. She breathed deeply and counted silently to ten. She had to get past her fear and talk to Zeke and Lucky alone. She didn’t know Jesse at all, so she couldn’t predict what his reaction would be if she exploded in front of him. He might have her hauled off to jail or something; some place Ellie couldn’t escape from.

  "Excuse me. Might I have a word with Zeke and Lucky, please?" She tried to sugar coat her words, but almost gagged on the effort.

  "Why?" Jesse pushed his hat to the back of his head and a curl of black hair fell across his forehead.

  Lord, he was a handsome guy, Ellie thought. But he's not yours, her other side countered. She reminded herself she didn’t even want to be here -- especially now that she had a vague idea of where here might be.

  "Why? Well, let's just say they did me a mighty big favor earlier today, and I want to see they're properly rewarded." She hoped her gaze flashed fire at the two old prospectors.

  "Shucks, Miss Elizabeth, it can wait for another day." Zeke replied, and Ellie figured he had caught her drift right away.

  "What do you mean, wait?" Lucky asked, clearly confused. "Why can't we get our reward now?"

  Ellie liked Lucky, for he was gullible enough to play right into her hands. "He's right, you do deserve something very special for what you did."

  Jesse didn't seem inclined to linger. "Then the boys will see you in, Elizabeth." He nodded his head and touched the brim of his hat.

  "Ellie," she reminded him, but he'd already turned away.

  "Zeke, you and Lucky don't keep Elizabeth up too late, and get yourselves some shut eye. We've got a long day tomorrow and the two of you look a hundred years old."

  The minute Jesse stepped off the porch and into the night, Ellie herded the other two inside, swinging the door shut behind her. Again, it creaked, making her think of ghosts and haunted houses. She had to find some light. Her fear of the dark overshadowed everything, even her anger.

  Making out the outline of a lamp on a nearby table, her shaky hands managed to strike a match and light the wick. Immediately upon the lamp catching, she swung on the two men.

  "What the hell have you gotten me into?" She shouted and instantly got a hand clamped against her mouth.

  "Missy, you just gotta quit talking that way." Zeke pleaded, his shadowy gaze becoming more distinct as Lucky moved the lamp on the table closer.

  She clawed until he let go.

  "Look, I'll talk any da...damn way I want." Lucky's crestfallen face did nothing to abate her anger. "When you asked me to help -- and I distinctly remember saying no -- there were a few things you forgot to mention. What am I supposed to do now? Take me back this instant." Ellie stepped forward, hand on the doorknob. She would rather stay in the ghost town, in the dark, than here where she didn’t understand what was happening.

  Zeke blocked her path and they stood nose to nose. "You can't leave."

  "And why not?" She could do as she pleased.

  Zeke ducked his head to the side, shifting his gaze away from her. "'Cuz we don't know how to get you back."

  "You don't know . . .that's ridiculous. There's got to be a way.” Ellie’s heart was pounding with anxiety. She wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans, trying to make sense of all this.

  “OK, calm down,” she muttered to herself. She lifted her hands, palms up, in a placating gesture, even though she seemed to be the only one upset. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a breath. “You said you had to keep Jesse from getting into any more trouble. How long is this trouble expected to last?"

  Zeke shrugged. "I don't 'xactly know what part of the month it is."

  She raised a brow and glared at him. "Do you even know what year it is, Zeke?" She knew her sarcasm hit home when he scrunched his shoulders and looked anywhere but at her.

  "1870," he whispered.

  She had made the comment mockingly, not ever believing what her eyes had seen. She just knew there had to be another explanation. Now, shock rippled through her. She shook her head, trying to clear it, clutching the back of a chair for support.

  It was impossible to fathom that two old miners had somehow taken her back in time. And yet everything she saw, from the houses to the lanterns to the lack of any type of vehicle, assured her it was true. If it had been daylight, she would have walked right out of there and headed -- where? Without her maps or any money, how far would she get?

  "How long do I have?" The question made it sound like Ellie was terminally ill, but at the moment, that was exactly how his news impacted her.

  "Maybe a month, give or take a few weeks."

  "A month?" She squeaked. Earlier today she had thought it might be a lark to be Jesse's fiancée for a few hours, but she definitely didn't want to be here a month. Not in 1870. She thought of the lack of electricity and modern conveniences. "I don't know how to live here."

  "Do what ladies do." Zeke said, smiling slightly as though trying to make light of the situation. Ellie wasn't amused.

  "Yeah, you know -- sew, visit, cook,” Lucky added, trying to be helpful.

  “I can't. I don't know how,” Ellie moaned.

  “Well, what can you do?”

  "Play golf and racquetball; drive a car." She leered at them just to make Lucky sputter.

  "Well, you can't do none of that, whatever it is, so you'd best learn some womanly things,” Lucky replied, sounding out of patience.

  They left her then, totally alone with no TV or satellite news, no fridge full of ready to eat food. She found a candle in a drawer and lit it, then another and another, grabbing every lamp and candlestick in the house and lighting them, too. Once, she had thought candles were romantic -- used to set the stage for a sensual evening. Now, she wanted light to keep the ghosts at bay.

  She wandered through the house, vaguely aware that it was really well made. Wood trimmed all the doorways and windows, glass on the windows revealed what little moonlight there was. Well, what did she expect -- rags over open holes and drafts through chinks in log walls?

  She didn't know what to expect. That was exactly the trouble.

  * * *

  Jesse pondered Elizabeth's strange behavior as he silently walked back to his cabin by the Nightingale Mine. Something out of the ordinary had happened, but for the life of him, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

  He had known Elizabeth over half his life. Their fathers had been friends, moving to Peavine when copper and gold had been discovered in '63. He'd watched her grow from a gangly, long-legged girl into a beautiful woman. As a girl, she had told him that she would marry him when she grew up and when he struck it rich, and Jesse had always smiled and teased and asked her what if he didn't want to wait until she grew up.

  As the years went by, Elizabeth had talked less of marriage. Then her mother had sent her back east to finishing school and she had changed. She hadn't even come home when her mother had died. If that wasn't enough to break her father's heart, when she did arrive eight months ago she'd been somewhat of a pain in the posterior.

  She had brought home some highfalutin ideas from her schooling. Jesse didn't agree with a one of them, but he couldn't deny she had become a beautiful, if spoiled, young woman. He still intended to marry her, but she wouldn't give him a definitive answer until he had more in his pockets than a few ounces of gold dust.

  Normally, he wasn't obsessed with Elizabeth. She was part of his life and he just got used to her being around, he supposed. Today, however, he noticed different little things about her. She had cut her hair, for example, and she seemed fidgety for some reason. He knew Clayton Scott had been visiting her quite often since her father's death, and now he wondered if it had been about more than business.

  Her unusual comments didn’t really bother him for he attributed them to her schooling. All her years back east only seemed to have instilled in her a sense of flightiness, instead of anything useful. It was a good thing her father had left the bank in trusteeship, for he doubted Elizabeth had any idea what to d
o with the business.

  Why was it too much to hope that her education had broadened her horizons? And why was he spending so much time thinking about her?

  Perhaps one of the reasons he now contemplated Elizabeth so intently was that all afternoon he had found himself staring at her. It wasn't her hair or her nervousness. It was her eyes. There had been a sparkle in their brown depths he didn't recall seeing before.

  When she had looked at him, her gaze spoke of anger and independence; but he had also glimpsed fire and passion.

  Passion. For the first time in their acquaintance, Jesse's loins had tightened in response to her nearness. That had been the real surprise. He had always felt comfortable around Elizabeth -- comfortable and somewhat complacent. Tonight she had ignited feelings in him that were anything but indifferent.

  Chapter 3

  Ellie paced through every room in the house, trying to figure a way out of this predicament. Seeing none, she tried to convince herself that she could survive a month. At times when she had gone to Europe, she had stayed in out-of-the-way, rustic places. Though most had electricity and phone service, she supposed she could endure without it.

  She'd just pretend the airport and civilization lay on the other side of the mountain. Actually, no matter what she saw here, she couldn’t imagine that they didn’t. It was inconceivable that she could be in any time other than her own.

  But if by some chance she had managed to traverse time from the present to Peavine in 1870, she could damn well reverse it and get back home. Zeke and Lucky knew the way and if she had to kidnap them, she would.

  She sat on a bed in what she could only assume was Elizabeth's room. Frills and lace covered everything from the curtains to the bedspread and canopy. Carefully, she placed one lit candle on the small table beside her. It sputtered in its holder and she knew she would soon have to blow it out, because as much as she hated the dark, she was afraid of starting a fire even more.

  Her fear of the dark was unreasonable, or so the doctors kept telling her. Being locked in a closet for hours when she was seven by a mean baby sitter shouldn't regulate the rest of her life, even to the point that at twenty-four years of age she still needed a night light. Regardless of what the experts said, however, her fear had never fully abated. There had even been times in college when she refused to go outside after dark.