Quicksilver Passion (102 page)

I’m afraid that was the most important thing in her life—her beauty. It went deeper than vanity; it was something from her past. I had hoped that big half-breed would care enough about her to change all that, give her some security . . .”

The Nugget collapsed in on itself with a resounding roar and sparks flew up into the dark night.

One of the grizzled miners standing next to him cleared his throat.
Doc, I know you said we had to burn the place, but how’ll Miss Silver live now?”

Doc took a deep breath of the scent of burning wood. More than lumber and paint were going up in smoke. A woman’s dreams were being destroyed, too.
There’s talk of making up a kitty to help Silver rebuild. She’s such a heroine with everything she’s done during this epidemic. Senator Walcott himself sent a thousand dollars.”

The miner whistled low in awe.
Hear that, fellas?”

The men around him turned.

I’ll donate!”

And me, too!”

And me!”

A cry went up through the crowd.
Yes, I’ll put in some money!”

Doc smiled.
It’s the least we can do. I wish we could do more—you know, some kind of tribute that will last forever.”

Emma looked at him, then back at the fire.
You mean a monument, like a statue in the park?”

Better than that,” Doc said.
A statue in a park would soon be forgotten. I’d like to do something so that a hundred years from now; maybe even a thousand years from now, people would see it and remember that once upon a time in the old West, there was a woman who cared enough about other people to sacrifice everything to help them.”

The miners around him murmured approval.
What should it be, Doc? What could we do that would last? What’s better than a statue or a monument to our Silver Heels?”