Silverton: Claims On The Heart (17 page)

 

12

 

Kathleen locked the store early on Christmas Eve. It had been a slow day with only a handful of customers.

Vic was nowhere in sight, having gone off to celebrate.

Kathleen had invited him home for supper only to have him mumble an apology about having other plans.

She hurried along the street glad to escape the loneliness of the store. She looked forward to being home where she and Papa would share a hot meal before their traditional reading of the Christmas story. She hung her coat in the hallway and listened.

Papa wasn't alone.

Martin's voice drifted from the bedroom.

Her anticipation of a relaxing evening was replaced by a sinking feeling. She would have to share Christmas Eve with Martin. If he proposed again she would have to ruin his evening as well as her own.

She stepped in to greet them.

Martin had brought a gift of wine. And judging by the men's jovial laughter, they had already been enjoying the gift. The first order of business was to get some supper into them before the wine went to their heads.

She heated a batch of venison stew and a pan of cornbread. They took their meal in Papa's bedroom, which, to Kathleen's relief, spared her from being alone with Martin. She had her first bite of food raised half-way to her mouth when Papa happily announced that he had accepted an engagement on her behalf.

“He came by to ask you to a dinner party at the Neigold house on New Year's Eve.” Papa gestured at Martin. “One of the brothers sings opera. I'd go along if I could get around on this leg.” Papa gave his offending limb a withering look.

Though the doctor said he was progressing amazingly well, it would still be another month before he could get about on a crutch.

Kathleen set down her fork and stared at her Papa. “I'd planned to spend New Year's Eve here with you.”

Papa waved a bite of potato. “I don't mind. Martin assures me it's a day party and you'll be back by nightfall. Otherwise I'd worry about you traveling Stony Pass Trail in the dark.”

“It's an honor to be invited,” Martin added. “And since I hear they're selling out, it might be the last party they have here.”

“Yes, I've heard about the Neigold brothers.”

The brothers came from Germany and formed a mining company. When they discovered rich ore in the number seven and number five veins on Galena Mountain, it seemed their prosperity would be endless. However, their ore had dwindled over the years and an avalanche had wiped out one of their mills. Nonetheless, three of the four brothers had remained, hoping to hit it rich again.

Kathleen still felt uncertain. She dared not encourage Martin. Then again, the trip back might be just the right opportunity to tell him they could never be more than friends. “All right. I'll admit I'd like to meet them. But I do want to spend New Year's Eve here at home.”

“And you shall.” Martin raised his glass and smiled at her.

She felt a stab of guilt in knowing she was about to destroy his dream of spending their lifetimes together. Her heart belonged to Collin.

“How were things at the store?” Papa asked, bringing her thoughts back to the present.

“Slow. We only had two customers all afternoon. I'm worried about Vic. He started his drinking early and kept going on about how it was dark and he hadn't seen a thing. I can only guess he was talking about that man found dead in the alley last night. A customer said the sheriff thought it was one of the bank robbers who got away, though he couldn't imagine why the man had come back to town.”

Martin's fingers tightened around his glass. “So Vic was in the alley last night?”

“I guess he passed by on his way home from the saloon. I told him if he saw anything he ought to tell the sheriff. But he got nervous and said he didn't have anything to say. I think he knows something, but he's afraid to talk.” Kathleen sighed. “I don't know what to think of Vic sometimes.”

Martin studied the ruby liquid in his glass. “I can't think what he could know. Probably he was too drunk to remember anything about last night and dreamed up this story about seeing something just to make himself feel important.”

Kathleen remembered Vic's pale face and the way his hands had shaken. “I don't know. He seemed pretty upset.”

Martin gave a mirthless laugh. “Trust me. He won't remember anything about it in the morning.”

When they finished eating, he helped Kathleen gather up the dishes. He followed her into the kitchen, where he stood at her elbow and made her nervous as she scraped the plates and put them in the dishpan to soak.

“I know you want to spend the rest of the evening with your father. But I have a Christmas gift for you. Will you see me to the door?”

Kathleen stared at him, embarrassment staining her cheeks. “I didn't think about gifts. I'm afraid I don't have anything for you.”

It wasn't entirely true about the gifts, for she had spent several hours knitting mufflers and socks for Papa and Collin. She had simply not thought of Martin. She wished he had not thought of her.

“I didn't get this present because I wanted one from you,” he said. He took her elbow and steered her to the door. He took his coat from the hook and reached into the pocket, withdrawing a small velvet covered box and handing it to Kathleen.

She felt a sudden panic about what it might contain.

“Go on. Open it.”

She took a deep breath and lifted the lid, relieved to see a gleaming gold locket on a chain. “It's beautiful. But I'm sure it's far too expensive. I wouldn't dare wear it.”

“Of course you will. It will look lovely around your beautiful neck.”

“Really, Martin, it's too much,” she pleaded, wishing she knew a tactful way to make him take it back.

He closed her hand around the box. “Not for you, it's not. Maybe soon, you'll have a picture you want to put inside.” He shrugged into his coat and went out the door.

She deposited the box in a drawer and retrieved the presents for her father. She thought of Collin's gifts tucked carefully away in tissue paper. She hoped he would hurry home to receive them.

They passed a quiet Christmas, celebrating with a dinner of roast pheasant.

Maggie was purring in Kathleen's lap as they sat in Papa's room. After a saucer of milk and scraps of pheasant, a warm lap was all she needed to be content.

The next few days were sunny and cold. New Year's Eve dawned with bright blue skies and no hint of any threatening gray clouds that might warn of a blizzard.

Kathleen rose and took care of her morning chores. Then, just before Martin was to arrive, she styled her hair in a high chignon and dressed in a black velvet dress with a dainty crocheted collar and cuffs. She threaded a matching velvet ribbon through her chignon and studied her reflection in the mirror. Her smile faded as she remembered the locket sitting in her bureau. Surely, Martin would expect her to wear it.

She put her hand on the drawer and debated. Finally, she decided to wear it for the sake of his feelings. But only for today. By evening, he would have to understand that she could not accept either his gifts or his proposal.

They set off at mid-morning for the trip up the trail.

Martin had brought his buggy, polished to a high shine at the livery, and his matched pair of jet black horses. He hoisted Kathleen onto the narrow wooden seat. When he climbed aboard, she had to sit so close to him that their thighs pressed together. But only for today.

They exchanged pleasant conversation as he turned the horses towards Green Mountain. Though she remained tense, waiting for him to bring up their relationship, Martin seemed content to talk about everything from the weather to his smart business decisions. “You know, I've been forced to shut down the stamp mill. Not enough business. It won't hurt me, though. I have the money to buy property in Ouray. They're still mining there and people are coming in. It takes more than bad times to put Martin Long under. I'm a survivor, Kathleen. Don't you forget that.”

“I'm sure you are.” She gave him a quick look, wondering at the bitterness in his tone.

He gave the buggy lines an abrupt snap. “When life tries to cheat you, you've got to cheat it right back.”

“I know it was a disappointment to shut down the mill. But it sounds like your good planning will see you through. And you never know. Mining may not be over.”

They rode in silence for a while.

Kathleen didn't mention that she'd heard more than one person wonder aloud about what kept Martin afloat. It was not as though he had been frugal. He was known for his expensive tastes, fine dining, and fashionable dress. And with the closing of the stamp mill, it was a mystery how he stayed in cash.

He seemed to snap out of his reflections. “You'll like the Neigolds. They're the most colorful characters for miles around.”

“I'm sure I will.”

Martin was right. Along with the other ten guests, Kathleen was swept into a festive spirit as soon as she entered their house. She would never have guessed they had fallen on hard times if she had not already been told. The food was a fine German feast that the brothers had taken pride in preparing.

After dinner they entertained their guests by dressing in their native Knickerbocker pants and powdered wigs and putting on an opera. The brothers sang and played the piano.

But Gustave, who had been a professional opera singer, thrilled Kathleen with his fine voice.

When it was time to leave, all the guests thanked them for the fine wine and food and the Turkish tobacco that the men had enjoyed.

Kathleen felt an admiration for their ability to enjoy life and extend enjoyment to others in spite of their difficulties. She shivered and pulled the buggy blanket up to her chin as they began the journey home.

The late afternoon sun looked anemic in the paling blue sky. It would be good to get home and settle in front of the fire with a mug of hot cocoa. And the experience of the afternoon would give her plenty to keep Papa amused for a while.

They descended Stony Pass Trail.

Martin watched her. “Did you have a good time?”

“A wonderful time. I'll never forget it. Thank you for asking me.”

“I feel exactly the same.”

“What would you think of moving to Ouray?”

“Ouray. Why would I move there?” Kathleen asked.

“I'll want to oversee the property I plan to buy. Maybe make some more investments in the area. You could close down the store. There's not much to keep us here.”

Kathleen swallowed hard. The moment had come. “Martin, I've had a really good time with you. I'm glad we've gotten to know each other. But I think it's only fair to let you know that I don't see a future for us. I like you, but I'm not in love with you.”

Nothing could have prepared her for the cold fury that swept across his face. “All the time I've taken, the courting I've done, is not enough for you?”

“All the courting in the world can't
make
someone fall in love,” she said.

Martin halted the buggy right at the crossing of Blair Street. “It's McAllister, isn't it? That no-account Irishman has got you bewitched. What's he done to deserve you, to deserve anything?” The bitter venom in his voice made her shiver.

“You can leave Collin out of this,” she said. “What is between me and Collin has nothing to do with you and me.”

“Sure it doesn't,” his voice dripped with sarcasm. “You expect me to believe that you wouldn't have had me if he hadn't come into the picture?”

“That's right. I'm thinking right now that we have very little in common.”

He poked his finger at her. “You listen here, lady. I work hard for what I want, and I always get it. You're not marrying McAllister. You're marrying me.”

Kathleen threw off the blanket and climbed down from the buggy. “I guess this is one time you're not going to get what you want.”

His hard glare pierced, but he left her abruptly after seeing her to the door.

She thought he might come inside after her and was relieved when he did not. What she had intended to be a gentle let-down had become such a bitter parting.

She mentioned none of this to Papa. He would find out soon enough where her affections lay and she didn't want to hear his opinion on the matter.

Instead, they spent a pleasant evening drinking hot cocoa and popping popcorn in the fireplace.

Kathleen didn't expect visitors the next day. A knock on the door the next afternoon was a surprise.

Had Martin come to apologize?

A woman stood on the porch. It took Kathleen a minute to recognize Polly, the girl from the brothel. Polly was clutching her shawl against the chill.

“Please come inside.” Kathleen remembered the last time she'd seen her sitting outside the saloon with her friend. She had not been friendly.

“I know you're surprised to see me,” Polly said. “But you've been decent to me and I thought I should warn you. Martin Long is a regular customer of ours. He came in last night mean as a skunk. He was talking about how you was going to get married whether you liked it or not. I thought I should warn you. You don't want to go marrying him. He's meaner than a badger when he's been drinking. Hurt one of the girls last night, and Billie made him leave. When she told him not to come back he threatened to burn the place down with us all inside.” She shivered. “I wouldn't put it past him.”

Kathleen felt her face drain of color. She had seen an unflattering side of Martin last night, but she'd never imagined him to be less than a gentleman. She forced a smile at her guest. “I can promise you that I wouldn't marry Martin if he was the last man on earth.” She reached for the girl's hand. “Thank you for coming here to tell me all this.”

Polly smiled. “I don't expect I'd want anyone to get saddled with a snake like him. He pretends to be a fancy man, but he's nothing but riffraff from Kerry Patch.”