Quicksilver Passion (16 page)

Cherokee only nodded, looking around, wondering what kind of shoes Silver would order. And then he realized that the shoemaker was working on the smallest shoe Cherokee had ever seen. Only one woman had feet that small.
Are those for Miss Silver?”

The shoemaker held the slipper up, evidently proud of his workmanship.
I always do my very best work for her. She’s one of those women every man would like to call his own, but I doubt anyone ever will.”

Cherokee held out his hand and the man put the shoe in it. He could close his big fist around it. Cherokee had seen bigger children’s shoes. The workmanship was good, but the shoe was not quite finished.
I owe Miss Silver a favor,” he said.

Half the town does,” the man said, leaning against his workbench.
The womenfolk don’t cotton to her, but she’s kind to even the most down-and-out old drunk. And that face! You ever see such a perfect face?”

Cherokee agreed, turning the small dancing shoe over and over in his hand, thinking.
When these got to be finished?”

She wants them for tonight’s show. I told her I’d bring them over myself right before the performance.” He winked broadly.
Gives me a perfect excuse to stay a few minutes, if you know what I mean.”

If she owns the place, why does she sing and dance there?”

Because it draws a crowd and she likes to do it, I suppose.”

That made sense. Somehow, when she sang, the small blonde had a way of making a man think she sang and danced only for him. Cherokee handed the slipper back and reached for his poke.
I want you to do something to these shoes—something she’ll like but she wouldn’t accept from me.”

I don’t know about this.” The cobbler scratched his thin hair doubtfully.

Tell her you did it as a way of saying
much obliged’ for her business. That way, she can’t turn it down.” Cherokee opened his poke. He had an idea that pleased him and he thought it would please her . . . as long as Silver didn’t have to feel obligated. He explained his idea.