The Jewel of His Heart (5 page)

Josh tipped his hat good-bye. “Perhaps I’ll see both of you later.”

The two watched as he went up the sidewalk. Marion was the first to break the silence. “He’s got his eye on you, Juliana.”

“Hardly. He was just being polite.” Juliana’s eyes followed Josh until he faded into the crowd past the general store. There was something about him that held an odd attraction for her. Was it his thick, muscular physique? Though taller by only a couple of inches with longish hair, he certainly conveyed a commanding presence, and when he spoke, the rich sound of his voice intrigued her. The lingering smell of sheep had been replaced with the scent of spiced men’s soap.

“I don’t think so. He couldn’t take his eyes off you, Juliana. We need to find out more about him.” Marion stood staring after him with a strange look on her face.

“I’m not interested in the least.” Was she protesting too much? “Besides, I have a new job that will require most of my attention. Now let’s quit lollygagging and finish up our errands. I want to press my new gingham dress before work tomorrow.” She pulled Marion by the arm, wondering about the rugged sheepherder in the back of her mind.

“If you insist.” Marion fell into step with her friend.

Lewistown was burgeoning with activity, with mountain men, miners, and farmers pursuing the adventure nestled in the foothills of the jagged mountains. It was unlike the cow town of Utica near Josh’s land, which was not more than a couple of buildings, and certainly not where one could stock up on supplies.

It was a cold day with low-hanging clouds clinging to the purple peaks. Josh was used to the unsettled weather, and he knew he’d left his flock in good hands, so he wasn’t worried. He might hang around a few days before heading back to camp.

Up ahead, in the slight wind that threatened rain, he saw a sign swinging. Lewistown Assessor. Funny, it was the only one within a hundred miles. He strode into the store and greeted the shopkeeper, who had a balding head and slight paunch. The storekeeper moved stiffly from his chair, laying aside his jeweler’s piece.

“What can I do for you today?” he asked, peering through his wire-rimmed spectacles.

“My name’s Josh McBride.” He smiled, extending his hand to the shopkeeper.

“Glad to meet you. I’m Will Smith. How can I be of help?”

Josh reached inside his vest for the small leather pouch. “I wonder if you’d have a look at these and tell me what you think.”

The shopkeeper opened the bag, spilling its contents across the counter. He quietly examined the few stones with his eyepiece. “Some nice stones you have here.”

“What are they?”

He looked back up at Josh, smiling. “They’re sapphires. Not just Montana sapphires, but Yogos. Notice the color and clarity.”

“I moved here from Colorado, so I’m not sure what Yogo means.”

“Some say it’s Indian for ‘blue sky.’ Where did you find these?”

“Out where I herd my sheep near Utica, where the Judith River dumps into a smaller stream.” Josh was starting to feel excited by his find. He could tell Will was definitely interested in the small blue stones.

“Well, Jake Hoover discovered these particular sapphires last year near Yogo Creek. I recollect that he owns a Yogo mine and sent his sapphires off to New York to be examined by an assayer from Tiffany’s. Man by the name of George Kunz. He thinks they’ll become valuable because of their distinctive color and quality that’s not found in other sapphires. Once the assayers cut them, they found out the stones didn’t have the normal inclusions and flaws.” Will examined the stones again with his eyepiece. “That makes them different from the regular Montana sapphires. Their color, while brilliant in sunlight, is not diminished by artificial light.” He paused for a moment. “I’m not sure Hoover still owns the mine. He wasn’t making any money and didn’t consider it a sound investment.”

“I see.” Josh felt his excitement quell with Will’s comment. “I’d like to contact him. Maybe I can find out if he’s looking to add another mine. Since my land is situated between his and the Judith River, it’d interfere with his access and his ability to haul water to the bench lands for mine-site washing and tailing disposal. He might be interested to find out I discovered Yogos on my property. Do you know where I can find him?”

“I can give you the name of his partner, and you can contact him.” Will scrawled a name and address on a piece of paper, then handed it to Josh. After placing the stones back into the leather pouch, Josh tucked the folded piece of paper into his pocket along with the pouch.

“I’d like to stake a claim on my property where I found these.”

Will pushed a paper form toward him on the counter. “Just complete this form and sign it, and I’ll file it for you.”

Josh filled out the form, signed it, and dated it. “Thanks for the information, Will,” he said, shaking his hand.

“Come back again. I’ll look forward to doing business with you for the Yogos, whenever you’re ready.”

Josh stepped back outside and whistled as he headed down the street. He’d have to think about mining Yogos. He hadn’t come here to do that. But it could be a possibility. Maybe he could become rich and show his father a thing or two. Then he’d have money to give Juliana anything her heart desired . . . Now what made him think of that? He barely knew Juliana. But he wanted to know her better.

Cold pellets of a passing rain cloud stung his face, and he lowered his head, thankful for his hat. He needed to pick up a few supplies, but he’d do that tomorrow. Right now he was going to shop for a new shirt and a pair of britches. If he ran into Juliana again, he didn’t want her to see him in worn Levis and a frayed shirt. A haircut wouldn’t hurt him either.

6

The cold, hard emptiness of the hotel room hit Juliana as she entered. She had slipped away from dinner early and knew Marion had watched her with concern. She ironed her new work dress, clean stockings, and underwear before getting ready for bed.

Juliana looked down at her hands, which were dry and scratchy from doing miners’ wash. The delicate undergarments had caught on the rough skin of her fingers. Thoughts of an indoor job away from the cold and wind provided a glimmer of hope for the future. She had never had it easy, and neither had her dear mother, God rest her soul. All they ever knew was working long hours—six days a week to pay the rent—and the little that was left over was used for purchasing meager food staples.

Juliana wondered where her father was, why he’d never sent for them, and why he’d sent them money in his letters only in the first months after he’d left. Had he forgotten them altogether? She had been only ten years old when he left, but she still remembered her mother clinging to him with such fierceness that he literally took both her arms and pried her off him. Words of promises— promises that her father would return—never kept.

A soft knocking at her bedroom door brought Juliana back to the present. Sighing, she opened the door to see Marion’s face etched in the glow of the moonlight.

“I see you’re all ready for bed. Are you all right?”

“I’m just getting my things ready for tomorrow.” Juliana invited her in, and the bed squeaked as they both sat on its edge. “I want to make a good impression.”

“And you will. Otherwise he wouldn’t have hired you in the first place.”

“Just think, Marion, I’ll have a decent wage. I’ll be able to pay for my room and board in just a few weeks, hopefully.” Juliana was excited and nervous all at the same time, and giggled. What if she wasn’t able to do the work expected of her?

“It’s nice to hear you laugh again, friend. We’re not worried about your paying your way just yet. Besides, the hotel isn’t full, and we don’t have need of this room.”

“I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank all of you enough. I’m glad I’m not alone in that rented cabin at the edge of town.” Juliana’s voice quivered.

“I know this is hard for you to be without any family, but you have us, and we will see you through, with God’s help. I promise.”

At the mention of God, Juliana frowned. Where was He when her mother became ill? Taking a deep breath and exhaling to calm herself, she admitted her fear to Marion. “What if I fail?”

“Juliana, I believe in you. Besides, you read very well, and you’re eager to learn. That’s half the battle right there.” Marion patted her hand. “I’m going to let you get to bed now. I just wanted to wish you good luck and tell you not to worry. There’s someone who cares for you more than I.”

Then where was He when my mama lay dying on the edge of the
road?
Juliana wanted to shout. Instead, she said, “That’s easy for you to say, Marion. At least you still have your father.”

I can do it, I can do it, I can do it.
Juliana’s heels beat out the cadence in her head as she marched down the busy sidewalk for her first day at the newspaper. Peering from under the brim of her bonnet, she looked this way and that before crossing the street. Men lounged against hitching posts dressed in cowboy garb, procrastinating the day’s work, but to her, the day was a new, fresh start.

Her heart thumped in her chest with anticipation.
Just think.
I have a job with a newspaper! Mama would be so proud . . . Well,
hold on, I haven’t even started. I might not be able to handle it.
She paused in front of the general store, glancing at her reflection in the storefront glass and adjusting the ribbons of her bonnet under her chin. The new dress with its row of tiny tucks at the bodice flattered her figure, and she felt quite professional. The last bit of the money after funeral expenses had gone to purchase the dress. Once she received a wage, it would be cheaper for her to buy material and make a couple of skirts and blouses. The clothes she used to wear for doing laundry had long since faded and were threadbare.

Thinking of her clothes made her think of Marion’s finery. What in the world did Marion see in her? Marion had many other friends in her social circle who had money and standing in the community. Juliana felt a familiar pang. In every camp she and her mother had worked in, she had seen the stares from the womenfolk who thought they were above her.

The tinkling of a bell above the door sounded as Juliana entered the newspaper office. Mr. Spencer rose from an ink-stained work counter and removed his spectacles.

“Good morning. My, but you are punctual. I like that.”

“Good morning, Mr. Spencer.” Juliana stood before him, suddenly feeling helpless. Where had her confidence flown?

“Juliana, I want you to call me Albert. I don’t stand on formality around here. Besides, that makes me feel sooo old.” He quickly added, “And I am, but don’t tell anybody.”

She liked his sense of humor. That could make working fun— and anything was better than what she was used to doing. “All right, Albert it is.”

Albert walked over to a small desk cluttered with paper and books, and Juliana followed. “First we need to clean a space on this desk for you to work. I’ve sharpened some pencils.” He motioned to the tin can holding them. “And here’s a tablet and Noah Webster’s dictionary. Any other reference material you need, just ask me.”

Juliana pulled out the chair and took a seat, untying her bonnet and laying it aside on the desk that was old and scarred, but a desk nonetheless. She had always wanted one, but of course that was a luxury she could never dream of. “What exactly would you like me to do, Albert?”

“First thing I’d like is for you to proofread an article I’ve just finished about the town council meeting last night. I’ll be setting the printing press for tomorrow’s paper that I will put together tonight. But with you helping to proof what has already been written, it’ll save me a lot of time. Then I’d like you to tackle that stack of papers on my desk and alphabetize them according to the title.”

He handed her a sheaf of papers to read just as the tinkling of the bell above the door sounded again, and a tall cowboy entered, spurs jingling against his boot heels. Over his long legs he wore leather chaps. Juliana noticed the gun strapped to his hip. He smelled of outdoors, leather, and stale tobacco. His light brown hair was long under his Stetson hat.

“Wes, what can I do for you so early this morning?” There was no trace of the friendliness in Albert’s face that she’d seen earlier.

“Well now. What do we have here?” Without waiting for an answer, the man said, “And where have you been all my life, beautiful?”

Juliana felt her face flush, and she stayed seated at her desk.

“Cut it out, Wes. This is a lady, in case you missed that little detail,” Albert said.

“A lady? Someone told me she’s a washer woman who washes men’s drawers,” Wes said. His long mustache curled up into a big S on either side of his mouth. Juliana didn’t like the glint in his hazel eyes or the way he referred to her previous job.

“This is Juliana, my new assistant. Now state your business.”

“Boy howdy! Assistant? Well, you sure can assist me. I’m Wes Owen.” He bent downward, extending his hand toward Juliana. “Glad to meet such a gorgeous woman today.”

Juliana squirmed in her chair. She did not shake his hand and spoke in a businesslike manner. “What can we do for you?” she asked, not knowing how to respond to his overt flirtations.