Heart of Gold (17 page)

He shook his head. “That was a long time ago, Alice. I’ve forgotten everything Ma taught me.”

His sister looked at him again, her expression sobering. “You need to ask Shannon to the dance before someone else does. She’s out with that Mr. Burkette today. He may have already asked her.”

The dislike Matthew felt for the livery owner was sharp.

“Shannon’s so good with Todd. You should see them together while you’re at work. I believe she loves him already.”

“Alice—”

“It won’t be much longer, Matt. You can’t wait. There isn’t enough time left.”

He didn’t have to ask what she meant.

Her voice now soft and wispy, Alice sounded far away, as if she already had one foot in another world. “I need to know Todd’ll be all right after I’m gone.”

“Okay. I’ll ask her to the dance. I give you my word. I’ll ask her the next time I see her.” Feeling his throat tightening up, he rose and took the tray downstairs.

Joe Burkette had taken Shannon for a buggy ride. Matthew wouldn’t be able to do the same without a horse. And he
should
own a horse. He’d be here for the next few months at the very least. It made sense to own a horse. Plus there was a small shed and corral on this property. Plenty of room for a horse or two. There wouldn’t be the expense of stabling an animal.

Which brought his thoughts right back to Burkette.

He really didn’t like the man. Something not quite trustworthy about his eyes or the set of his mouth or something. He was surprised the reverend hadn’t thought the same thing.

From outside came Todd’s shout. “Bring it here, Nugget. Bring it here.”

Matthew moved to the open kitchen door and around the veranda to where he could see boy and dog playing in the yard. Nugget, it was clear, had no concept of the game of fetch. He attacked the stick his master had thrown, growling and barking and jumping about but never picking it up and carrying it to Todd.

“I believe she loves him already
.”

A sad smile curved his mouth as he remembered Shannon at the supper table the previous night. Alice was right. She did seem to be fond of the boy. And she’d taken pity on Matthew, too, entertaining him and Todd with amusing stories, taking their minds off the invalid upstairs for nearly an hour. He’d been surprised by the compassion she’d shown, although he supposed he shouldn’t have been after the way she’d cared for Alice for the better part of two weeks. For certain the young woman with hair the color of burgundy wine and eyes the same green as the forest surrounding Grand Coeur wasn’t the hothouse flower he’d once thought her.

15

Delaney Adair’s sermon that Sunday was taken from the twelfth chapter of Romans, the eighteenth verse:
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men
.” He spoke of peace. He spoke of God’s plan for the world and for nations. “‘The Lord,’” he quoted from Proverbs, “‘hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.’” He promised that God’s sovereign will would be accomplished, no matter what men planned.

Although the reverend never mentioned the war raging in the East, Matthew believed that was the underlying reason for his message. Did Delaney Adair realize a good percentage of his congregation was men who resented, even hated, the opposing percentage of his congregation? A message about living in peace with all men would surely fall on a few pairs of deaf ears.

Seated in the third pew, right side of the aisle, his nephew next to him, Matthew wondered for the first time about the minister’s political leanings. He’d assumed Reverend Adair’s feelings and beliefs about the

South and the war would be the same as his daughter’s. But now? After this sermon, he wasn’t so sure.

His gaze moved to Shannon. As she did every Sunday, she sat in an upholstered chair set near the organ. She looked very pretty in a dress of green and blue; he would venture to guess that it was new. He liked the thought of her getting a new gown. A young woman as lovely as she was shouldn’t have to go without pretty clothes. She was used to finer things. If they were married, would he be able to— Realizing how far his thoughts had strayed from the sermon, Matthew forced his attention back to the reverend in time to hear him say, “Let us pray.” Matthew bowed his head and hoped he hadn’t missed anything the good Lord had intended for him to hear.

After the prayer, the congregation rose to sing the final hymn, and although Matthew was aware of Shannon moving from her chair and onto the organ bench, he kept his attention focused on the reverend, not wanting his thoughts to wander a second time.

A short while later Matthew and Todd moved toward the narthex. He greeted many of the churchgoers by name. There was the sheriff ’s deputy; Mr. Rutherford, publisher of the
Grand Coeur Democrat
, and his wife; Dr. Featherhill and his wife; and Mack Patterson, manager of the Bank of Idaho at the corner of Main and Clark Streets, and his wife.

The wives.

There was no doubt about it. Married women civilized the gold camps and other communities. They influenced the culture of a town, even when those women were few in number. They caused even the coarsest of men to mind their speech and, on occasion, their hygiene.

Unable to help himself, he glanced over his shoulder toward the organ. As Shannon played the final chord, she lifted her eyes. Their gazes met and she smiled. It warmed him deep inside, in a place he hadn’t realized was cold.

He looked toward the exit again in time to see Reverend Adair lean down to shake Todd’s hand. “Good morning, Master Todd.”

“Morning, sir.”

“How are you?”

“Fine, sir.”

“Good. I’m glad. And how is your mother?”

Todd’s expression sobered. “Not too good.”

“I am sorry.” The reverend straightened, his gaze rising to Matthew. “Shannon told me Mrs. Jackson took a turn, but I’d hoped . . .” His words drifted into silence. They weren’t needed.

Matthew nodded. “She insisted Todd and I come to church without her.”

“Do you suppose she would like a visitor this afternoon?”

“She always enjoys seeing you, Reverend.”

Delaney nodded. “Then I shall come. Shall we say three o’clock?”

Matthew nodded, told the reverend he’d enjoyed the sermon, and moved on out the doorway into the bright sunshine. Once at the bottom of the steps, he told Todd to run on home and keep an eye on his mother. “I just need a few words with Miss Adair. Tell Sun Ling I won’t be long.”

It was nearly noon. Sun Ling would have their dinner ready for them. The woman had agreed to stay at the house on Sundays until after the family returned from church and the dishes from the midday meal were washed. Then she would leave to attend her own church service that was held on Sunday evenings somewhere in Chinatown.

Todd didn’t seem to mind his uncle’s instructions. He set off at a run toward home.

He’s a good kid
. Matthew looked toward the entrance again.
And he deserves a loving woman to care for him
.

The congregation had mostly dispersed, although a few stragglers were still talking to the reverend. Hoping he looked as if he’d left something behind, Matthew reentered the church and made his way into the sanctuary.

Shannon had finished playing the organ and was now walking up the aisle in his direction. When she saw him, she stopped. “Mr. Dubois.”

Matthew found himself suddenly nervous. He knew even less about courting a woman than he did about dancing with one.

“Was there something you needed?” she asked. Then her eyes grew worried. “Is it your sister? She hasn’t—”

“No. It isn’t Alice.” He removed his hat, holding it by the crown in his right hand.

Relief swept across her face. “Thank the Lord.”

“Yes. Thank the Lord.” He drew a quick breath. “Miss Adair, I was wondering . . . I was hoping you might consent . . . I’d like you to go with me to the Fourth of July celebration.”

This time it was surprise that flickered in her eyes. Surprise and something else, though he couldn’t guess what.

He rushed on. “I’ve heard there’ll be lots of food and good music and a dance too. And, of course, fireworks.”

“A dance? With so few women in Grand Coeur?”

Matthew relaxed a little, seeing as how she hadn’t refused him outright or announced she was already engaged for the evening with someone else. “Miners in these camps aren’t a particular bunch, Miss Adair. If there aren’t enough women to go around—which there never are—some men will take the part of the women so everybody can dance. I’ve seen them don an old crinoline for the occasion, but usually they just tie a colored string or a scarf around their arms.” He touched his bicep.

“Surely you’re joking.”

“But I’m not.”

“That doesn’t sound very . . . very proper. Or dignified.”

“Dignified?” He chuckled as he shook his head. He’d forgotten how sheltered Shannon was in many regards, how unused she was to life on this side of the Mississippi. “No, I don’t reckon it’s dignified. But these men have little enough fun in their lives. So they like to cut loose on occasion. In the camps, entertainment mostly comes down to drinking, gambling, and dancing. Everybody will want to dance on Independence Day, with or without a sufficient number of females in attendance.”

A frown furrowed her brow. “I see.”

“Some of the men who attend this church are part of the planning committee. I believe they mean to ask your father to join them.”

That news seemed to ease her concerns a little. Something told him she was close to making her decision. He decided to press his case, saying with a smile, “I would much rather dance with you, Miss Adair, than with a man with a string tied around his arm.”

Shannon couldn’t help herself. She laughed aloud at the notion of Matthew Dubois twirling around a dance floor with another man. Of course, she shouldn’t accept without talking to her father first.

“Will you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you?” Matthew asked, his smile vanishing.

Suddenly she didn’t feel like smiling either. A cloud of butterflies took flight in her stomach. She didn’t want to wait and talk to her father first. She wanted to be certain she got to step into this man’s arms and whirl around a floor in time to the music. “I would be pleased to go with you, Mr. Dubois.”

“I should warn you that I can’t claim to be much of a dancer.” The smile crept back into the corners of his mouth.

In response, a shudder of pleasure ran up Shannon’s spine.

He set his hat back on his head. “I’d best go. Sun Ling will want to return to her home soon.” As he turned, he added, “I’ll see you in the morning, Miss Adair.”

“Yes. In the morning.”

She waited until he left the sanctuary before she stepped into the nearby pew and sat down. How unexpected. Matthew Dubois had asked her to a dance, and she’d
wanted
to go with him. She’d
agreed
to go with him. Gracious! What would her father say? She knew he personally liked Mr. Dubois. But would he consider him a proper escort for her?

Do I consider him a proper escort?

The image of Joe Burkette popped into her head—dashing and handsome . . . and Southern-born. She should want to go with him.

She didn’t.

“Merciful heavens,” she whispered, rising to her feet once again.

“Shannon? Are you ready to go home?”

“Yes, Father. I’m coming.”