Quicksilver Passion (15 page)

Oh?” Cherokee smiled politely as he reached for his money.
I got business at the blacksmith and then I’ll be moving on.”

Tabor snorted.
Sorry, fella, you’ll have to wait ’til tomorrow for the blacksmith. He’s out of town at a funeral.”

Is there another one?”

Nope. What’s your all-fired hurry, anyhow? He’ll be back tomorrow. You probably ain’t findin’ much gold nohow.”

Cherokee felt both guilty and elated. He sighed and reached for his parcels.
Prospectin’ is just something that gets in your blood, I reckon. My papa spent his whole life chasing after the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that was always just over the next hill.”

Tabor scratched his head.
He ever find it?”

No.” The Welshman had gone off with a white saloon whore named Lulu, chasing yet another rainbow while his deserted Indian wife and son made out the best they could in the Georgia hills.

An empty ache came to his heart. He had still been only a child when the government decided to move the Cherokees thousands of miles away to Indian Territory in the wintertime. The Removal.
Tsi-ge gv-wo-o-ta-ne-i,
his people called it. His mother was forced to go and died along with thousands of others. Cherokee’s grandmother had taken him deep into the woods and they had hidden out for years. It had earned its other name—the Trail of Tears.

Tabor pushed his parcels to him.
Take my advice, fella, find another way to make money besides digging for gold. Now myself, I’ve grubstaked a few prospectors. If any of them ever hits pay dirt, I’ll be a rich man without ever touching a shovel.”

Cherokee only half listened. Already he was thinking how glad he was that he had an excuse to stay in town at least another night. Immediately he felt guilty. Those two old prospectors he had taken in as partners needed help back at the claim.

He whistled jauntily as he picked up his packages and went out. Cherokee had brought a small poke full of silver, intending to spend it on a good time. But now he had a sudden desire to buy the beautiful girl a present. Maybe then she might look at him with favor.
What could he buy that would please her?

She wore expensive jewelry, but he knew he couldn’t afford that. Besides he had no experience at choosing pretties for women. Probably wasn’t much to buy in this town anyway. He half turned back toward Tabor’s store, then decided the sour-faced wife wouldn’t-have ordered really fine fabrics or anything that Silver hadn’t already bought if she wanted it.

Muddy shoes. Hers had been ruined this morning. She’d been coming out of the shoe shop when Cherokee had first seen her this morning. Would she accept a gift anyway? Probably not.

Undaunted, he stroke over to the shop and went inside. The dim interior smelled of leather and polish. A slight man with his hair parted down the middle and a cobbler’s hammer in his hand looked up.
Can I help you, mister?”

Cherokee lost his nerve.
Uh, I was thinkin’ of havin’ me some new boots made.”

I can do her! Never did hold with these factory-made jobs; don’t even come to fit your foot, no left and right.”